I turned 27!
Life Update - adjusting to Suburbia, career/law school updates, & holding onto hope
12/18/2023
Hi, everyone!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this Holiday Season ❄️🎄 Sorry for the lack of communication these past few months. It’s taken some time to adjust to the move.
Benji and I are finally settled into our new home! We’re living with my parents in a small town outside of Orlando while we prepare for our big move to DC next year. I’m actually enjoying living with my parents again, but I certainly did not miss the Suburbs. I escaped them for a reason when I went off to college. Having to drive everywhere, even to socialize, has led to more time spent at home and in isolation. It’s not all bad, though. This living environment has helped me focus on studying for the LSAT, which I’m taking for the last time next month!! From there, I’ll submit my law school applications and be one step closer to fulfilling my law school goals!
I celebrated my 27th birthday in Miami yesterday, with my triplet sister, Jasmine, her girlfriend, and Benji. If you didn’t know, I’m a triplet! We’re fraternal, but do sometimes say the same thing at the same time lol. We enjoyed our trip and got to try out the Brightline for the first time — which was very clean, comfortable, and punctual — but I did get a sour taste in my mouth when I learned how deadly the train is and how the Brightline was the result of a high-speed rail project fmr. Gov. Rick Scott killed a few years ago. I hate how corruption is (one of the reasons) why we can’t have nice things :-/
Aging, and growing further into adulthood, is weird. Partly because to be an adult is to favor predictability and perceived stability. Disrupting and inconveniencing is left to the young adults and those who haven’t yet settled for the status quo. Although I’m 27 now and feel like a full adult, I’m actively trying to hold onto the younger version of myself that was blind to doubt and full of optimism. Holding onto hope will keep our collective dream for better alive. Ask yourself if you still have it, and what you can to keep the candle of hope burning.
That’s all I have for now.
Stay well, happy holidays, and talk soon!
Shelby
Extra:
The pressure for a ceasefire is growing! Contact your Congress members to express your concerns about the War in Gaza and the United States’ role in funding war and needless death.
A report I co-authored was used to help pass legislation in Illinois to protect access to electricity during periods of extreme heat! For those who might not remember, I work as a Research Fellow at the Energy and Policy Institute, an organization that monitors the energy industry. One of my areas of focus is utility debt and shutoffs. The report detailed the energy affordability crisis and possible policy solutions to help address the issue. This was one of my biggest work highlights of the year and I’m proud to see my research being used to help improve the living conditions of Illinois residents.