During my time at Princeton, I’ve taken many engaging classes, but one that truly stands out is Congressional Politics (POL 324). Taught by Professors Lee and Oldham, this course was especially compelling as it simulated the workings of the Senate. The first six weeks included traditional lectures and discussions, but the second half shifted to a full-fledged role-play simulation. Each student took on the role of a senator, joined a committee, and had a detailed set of responsibilities. We conducted committee meetings during precepts and engaged with our peers and constituents through Slack, which served as our version of Twitter. This experience was unlike anything I had encountered before. Prior to this course, my understanding of Congress was quite limited, but by the end, I felt significantly more informed and engaged with the legislative process than I ever could have anticipated.
In this class, my role was to be senator of Hawaii which meant I was responsible for representing my constituents and securing policy objectives that best met their interests; I was also on the education committee and directly oversaw bills under this jurisdiction. In the six weeks I played as senator, I frequently “tweeted,” proposed several bills, and voted for numerous amendments, all while working alongside other fellow senators. I also spoke on the “floor” of the Senate (a classroom in Robertson) and truly embodied what it meant to be a part of Congress. In fact, one night, I vividly remember leaping out of bed in response to a Slack notification, scrambling to write an “amendment” before our “session” (class) the next day. To this day, that notification sound still haunts me!
I do not think any class will ever compare. Pol 324 was truly one of the most defining classes that I have taken at Princeton. Indeed, other than being able to truly immerse myself in the inner mechanisms of Congress, I was also pushed out of my comfort zone. I learned how to articulate my thoughts, work alongside others, and also venture into uncomfortable spaces. Moreover, since part of this experience required learning how to navigate complicated and sensitive situations, as actual Congress members do in the real world, I learned how to approach these moments and not shy away from making my beliefs known (even in a fictitious setting). Due to the experimental and candid nature of the class, it felt comforting to get close with my classmates and my professors. Indeed, as we all navigated this new experience, it was amazing seeing the patience we employed to one another and the common fascination we shared in witnessing how concepts discussed in class played out in the simulation.