"Raini, like a Rainy Day." Welcome to my blog!

I remember being very young when I first began to lose myself in the world of literature and writing.

Imagine, a little girl hiding her eyes behind a long, delicate wall of frizzy blonde hair, sitting in a desk near the front of the room, and somehow believing she was being sneaky as she read a book wedged between her lap and the top of her desk.

I thought myself to be so elusive. That is, until the teachers would walk by, pause beside me, then promptly pluck the book from my small fingers. Usually, there was a quick turn of mental response immediately following.

Shock.

Then embarrassment.

Then fear. “Oh no, does she hate me now?” Or, “will he think I’m a bad student?”

The thing is is that I never was a bad student. In all honesty, reading books during class was about the most rebellious thing I ever did throughout school, and even though I technically knew it was wrong, it was almost impossible for me to find that good stopping point. Where I felt a sense of closure in reaching the end of a chapter. When that moment came where I conceded to a cliffhanger and let myself stop flipping another page. When I could close the book and push it away.

It was, for lack of a better term, my childhood obsession.

And I think my teachers knew that. Because despite the fact that they always seemed to catch me in my not-so-secretive act, I also remember always looking up sheepishly, my palms open and empty, and seeing them smirk at me.

Gentle, understanding, kind. Almost amused.

You see, I’ve always had a particular fondness for what literature had to offer. I’ve experienced a lot of considerable growth and change over the years, but one thing that has always remained the same is my need for personal perfection. Whether it’s my grades, my projects, my jobs, or even my handwriting, my best has never really been good enough. Sure, it means that I work hard at everything I do, but at the same time, it creates a crippling sense of anxiety that I tend to bury under more and more tasks I assign to myself so I don’t have the time to think about it.

Books were my escape from that. Because, at least for a moment, I was lost in a world of far-away places, where conflict always gave way to a main character rising above his or her challenges. There were tensions with guaranteed resolutions, loss and recovery, heroic conquests and wonderful adventures, magic and friendship, and eventually, a peaceful end to chapters upon chapters of struggles and battles and conflicts.

Now, almost 18 years later, I find myself in a position where the world of literature and writing has become ingrained into my education, but maybe not in the way you would expect.

In fifth grade, a local attorney in Lake Park visited my classroom for Mr. Luke’s Social Studies class. We had been selected to learn the broad ethics and rules of law, and following these lessons, received a case for which we would be conducting a mock trial for.

Something happened over the course of those few weeks that resonated deeply within me. I was chosen to be one of the two prosecution attorneys, along with my childhood friend, Chase Cooper, and together we had to write our own opening and closing statements, conduct direct and cross examinations, and much to my young glee, dress the part and perform the mock trial in the Valdosta courthouse.

...If you can't tell, I took this very seriously.

And yes. We won the case.

Anyways, what is even more important than a young girl’s joy at being able to have such an experience is the fact that this very event is what set the stage for a decade-long dream:

I knew I wanted to be an attorney.

I think people were almost amused by it. Here was this girl, no older than ten, speaking of a career path that was not only bold and ambitious, but stimulated by a one-time experience that offered only a small taste of what being an attorney was even about. I was told on several occasions to stay open-minded, to try and give way to flexibility should I change my mind, to even consider other options.

But I’m stubborn and passionate. And so the goal stuck.

When I was accepted into the University of Georgia in the spring of 2016, I declared myself an Intended Political Science major and began enrolling in classes ranging from Public Opinion in American Democracy, to Judicial Process Behavior, to Communication Law. I was completely infatuated by the political world, how government worked, and to this day, I strive to immerse myself in as many different topic areas within my major as I can so that I achieve the best form of understanding of the law possible.

So where does the literature part come into play?

Well, my love for reading and writing certainly never dissipated over the years. Even as a Political Science major, I had a fondness for reading and analyzing casework, studying the history of legislation, and evaluating the specifics of Supreme Court nominations. I had exchanged wars in novels to epic debates on the House floor, heroes addressing their armies to presidents delivering State of the Union Addresses to the American people, the final page of a long piece of fiction for the epic conclusion of a landmark decision of a case within the Supreme Court.

To truly answer this question, however, we need to go back to 2016. Specifically, we need to talk about the emergence of what has come to be referred to as “fake news."

It is known that most, if not all, news media hold their place on a political ideological spectrum. In this, many perceive particular coverage to be biased against certain candidates, political parties, legislation, etc. This topic became highly prevalent and was a massive point of discussion and debate throughout the presidential election and beyond.

I do not wish to get political, but I began to see the immense amount of backlash the journalism community was facing. It seemed as though the very nature of journalism and all it stood for was being questioned, which, for me, raised several areas of concern.

In my mind, journalism and freedom of the press are integral parts of the backbone of democracy. They are the bridges between the American citizens and the government which runs their country, and seeks to give the public the information they need to make well-informed decisions.

And for the last five years, I have watched this very industry become threatened with the question of its necessity and credibility.

It has not only angered me, it has scared me. To this day, I feel a fire burning within me. Something that has seemed to grow and build in its heat and volume, something that has guided me into a mentality and purpose that has not faded since.

I have to be part of this fight. I need to be part of the solution.

So during my second year of college, I decided to add Journalism as a double major. Additionally, I applied and was accepted into a certificate program entitled ‘Public Affairs Communications,’ or simply PAC for short, which combined my two majors in a way that exposed me to a completely new side of what writing was all about. Specifically, I began to learn the value and importance of the journalism industry within the political world, including the role of the news media in the political sphere.

With it being a two-year program, I began my first semester of classes with both Journalism and my certificate as a third year. Since then, I have gained an immense amount of knowledge about these two different worlds, as well as how they overlap and coincide with one another. I have met wonderfully talented, intelligent peers whose valuable skill sets will certainly lead them to becoming the next generation of lawyers, lobbyists, and representatives. I have also formed relationships with professors whose experiences in law, lobbying, and time on the Hill have proved to be most helpful in guiding me as I continue down this educational path.

It was through this that I began to truly understand my place in the world and where I knew I belonged. I remember one day, I sat down with one professor in particular and spoke to him about matters concerning the journalism industry and the threats against it. I declared my passion for First Amendment law and how important it is for the sanctity of our democracy, and how I felt it was my responsibility to be part of the solution instead of simply ignoring the problem.

He had smiled and said, “Sounds like you’ll be taking my job one day.”

And all of these experiences, whether they be large or small, have led to a series of decisions that have genuinely influenced me as both a student and an individual. I can say that after several years of pining after a career path I didn’t fully understand, the young girl who snuck a few chapters in during class has evolved into a strong woman who wants to advocate for the freedoms and rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

I feel as though it is not just my place, but my duty, to do so.

So hello. My name is Raini, like a rainy day. I love the world of writing and all that it entails, and through my career and lifetime, I seek to apply this passion into defending the rights of individuals putting it to practice.

It is my hope that, through this blog, I can showcase who I am as a person, a writer, and a carefully optimist college student.

And with that, welcome to my blog!