By Jonathan Rangel
Contributing Writer
Trip Yang is a lead staffer in Boone County for the Obama re-election campaign. The 23-year-old is a field organizer, which means he is responsible for connecting with voters in the area.
Yang visited the DMACC News Media and Politics class as a guest speaker Aug. 30.
Yang was born in China, but also has lived in California and New Jersey. He attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he majored in economics and was a big part of the school’s newspaper.
“I was working as a student reporter as well as a columnist and editor.”
It was this exposure to the political world that led Yang to be one of the numerous youths who was motivated to go out and vote during Obama’s first election. But he adds, “At first I wasn’t that interested in politics. It wasn’t until I began to see the importance of policies that I made the decision to take action in the actual campaign process.”
Yang began work with the Obama campaign in February in New Jersey.
When asked about the process of rising through the ranks to become a paid staffer, Yang said, “you get out of it what you put in.” Yang described in detail the efforts made on his part as an early intern (called fellows within the organization.)
“The higher ups began to take notice of the work I was doing. It did not matter what I was asked to do; I did it well.”
This was the type of work ethic that Yang continued to show and the main reason he was able to advance so rapidly, he said.
Contributing Writer
Trip Yang is a lead staffer in Boone County for the Obama re-election campaign. The 23-year-old is a field organizer, which means he is responsible for connecting with voters in the area.
Yang visited the DMACC News Media and Politics class as a guest speaker Aug. 30.
Yang was born in China, but also has lived in California and New Jersey. He attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he majored in economics and was a big part of the school’s newspaper.
“I was working as a student reporter as well as a columnist and editor.”
It was this exposure to the political world that led Yang to be one of the numerous youths who was motivated to go out and vote during Obama’s first election. But he adds, “At first I wasn’t that interested in politics. It wasn’t until I began to see the importance of policies that I made the decision to take action in the actual campaign process.”
Yang began work with the Obama campaign in February in New Jersey.
When asked about the process of rising through the ranks to become a paid staffer, Yang said, “you get out of it what you put in.” Yang described in detail the efforts made on his part as an early intern (called fellows within the organization.)
“The higher ups began to take notice of the work I was doing. It did not matter what I was asked to do; I did it well.”
This was the type of work ethic that Yang continued to show and the main reason he was able to advance so rapidly, he said.
“I can remember working 40 to 50 hours a week, and the more work I was doing, the more responsibilities I was given.”
This pattern of continuous work and more tasks progressed from making calls and knocking on doors, to running a number of Obama’s social media accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook. He even began to speak publicly on behalf of the campaign. He was offered a paid position and had a say in where he would be placed.
“I wanted to be somewhere that needed my help and wasn’t already up and running; Boone was that place.”
Yang’s hard work has not only paid off career-wise, but he was also able to enjoy special opportunity extended to him as a sign of appreciation. “I was able to take a trip to the White House where I got to share a few words with the President,” he said. He described the meeting in June as a very intimate occasion. The Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, were among the small number of guests invited to the exclusive get-together.
“It was an awesome experience and it shows that if you give your best effort, the organization will take notice and reward you.”
The last question asked was in regard to the negativity encountered during the campaign. This election reminds us of how polarized the nation is with both sides acting nasty.
Yang said, “When people reject a party or candidate, it isn’t a personal attack against you.” He said it is easier to agree to disagree when confronted with people who are set on how they think this country should be run. “The number one thing is to remember to keep it professional,” he said.
Whether you’re a political veteran or someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of a political campaign, the Obama Organizing Fellowship is for you. Apply today at http://www.barackobama.com/fall-organizing-fellow/ or contact Trip Yang, 515-664-3928, [email protected]
This pattern of continuous work and more tasks progressed from making calls and knocking on doors, to running a number of Obama’s social media accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook. He even began to speak publicly on behalf of the campaign. He was offered a paid position and had a say in where he would be placed.
“I wanted to be somewhere that needed my help and wasn’t already up and running; Boone was that place.”
Yang’s hard work has not only paid off career-wise, but he was also able to enjoy special opportunity extended to him as a sign of appreciation. “I was able to take a trip to the White House where I got to share a few words with the President,” he said. He described the meeting in June as a very intimate occasion. The Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, were among the small number of guests invited to the exclusive get-together.
“It was an awesome experience and it shows that if you give your best effort, the organization will take notice and reward you.”
The last question asked was in regard to the negativity encountered during the campaign. This election reminds us of how polarized the nation is with both sides acting nasty.
Yang said, “When people reject a party or candidate, it isn’t a personal attack against you.” He said it is easier to agree to disagree when confronted with people who are set on how they think this country should be run. “The number one thing is to remember to keep it professional,” he said.
Whether you’re a political veteran or someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of a political campaign, the Obama Organizing Fellowship is for you. Apply today at http://www.barackobama.com/fall-organizing-fellow/ or contact Trip Yang, 515-664-3928, [email protected]