Come from a Place of Wonder
By Alexander Lê
A 2019 intern reflects on a transformative internship experience, where he documented his summer in Washington, D.C. through photography.
Alex Lê (back row, left) with his 2019 OCA summer internship cohort.
Advocacy work takes time; it is often unseen and rarely flashy, but never without meaning. The internship reminded me that every small action builds toward something greater. Within my cohort, we learned to celebrate not only our accomplishments, but also each other: cherishing the friendships that sustain us. It truly takes a village, and I am grateful for the mentors and OCA staff who made my experience in DC memorable, whether it was speaking out on the Hill, hiking through forests, or sharing laughs (and tears!) during Sama Sama sessions. My favorite memories consist of just being able to explore DC, my first time living outside of Texas on my own, and being able to enjoy the city with my new friends who inspired and taught me so much along the way. My ultimate takeaway from the experience was to always approach advocacy by coming from a place of wonder: wonder at the power of community and what we can achieve together.
Alex Lê is an aspiring community health advocate and current resident physician in the Social Internal Medicine program at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. He has interests in infectious diseases, HIV care, and public health. He is passionate about advancing equity in the healthcare system through policy, research, and advocacy, while humbly learning from others along the way.