As an intern for two summers with the California Democratic Party and Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial campaign, Phillip Miranda did it all. From assisting with outreach events and meeting delegates to assembling office furniture and making coffee, the ECC alumnus received valuable hands-on experience on the campaign trail. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2018 from the University of California, Santa Cruz, two summer internships, and a paid campaign position, Miranda is now employed full time as a scheduling assistant with Governor Newsom's office.
"During the campaign, I learned a lot, I tried new things, and every day was different and challenging," he said. "It was a good experience for me; I learned to get out there more and to be more assertive and outgoing. I feel very blessed with this job. I am learning how to manage time and run the office. I like working in the Capitol."
After graduating from Hawthorne High School, Miranda took his first political science classes at El Camino College, which offered a good introduction and overview of California state politics. He said those classes helped him see the parallels between state and federal government and offered a good perspective on the political science landscape.
"At El Camino College I liked the classroom community and being around other students who were motivated and working hard toward that next step in their education," he added. "I was new to college back then and people were really working hard, and that rubbed off on me."