Prove Them Wrong On Tuesday

Impact
ByRob Flaherty

 The "Pass the Mic" series showcases voices, perspectives and ideas that spark interesting conversations. 

Rob Flaherty is the Youth Media Director for the Democratic National Committee.

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

I graduated school and despite my best efforts to apply to jobs in my field of choice, I didn't get hired. With few options left before I had to accept defeat and move in with my mom, I applied for a random clerical job back home in Massachusetts and an unpaid internship on a political campaign. I got both gigs. It was a tough choice: Go home and work a job I'd likely hate but would pay and insure me, or take the risk to get my foot in the door with an internship that wouldn't. I'd saved my money so I could afford to eat and live somewhere, but there was one piece of the puzzle that stood between me and a job I didn't care about: health insurance. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I could stay on my parent's insurance once I left school. Insurance card in hand, I took the risk, got hired, and now, a year later I get to talk to young people about why voting for Democrats matters.