I didn’t know what to expect from Kamala Harris. Then I met her.

I saw Kamala Harris for the first time on the debate stage in 2019. At the time, I was 13 years old.

I saw a powerful speaker and someone who, as a half-Indian woman, looked a lot like me. I also saw just another politician.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand the effects of politics on my everyday life. What I did understand, though, is that national politics felt very, very far away–and that the politicians on that debate stage felt quite removed from my life.

Fast forward five years–I was  17 years old and knee-deep in state-level civic activism. To my utmost surprise, I got an invitation to meet Vice President Harris at the Phoenix stop on her Reproductive Rights Tour.

Meeting Kamala Harris

At this point, I had respect and admiration for the Vice President. I saw her as someone who, despite a mountain of obstacles, had achieved enormous success. However, she still felt removed from my community–like just any other high-profile politician.

I got through security and a long period of waiting, and I found myself in a room full of people in suits and ties. I was nervous, to say the least. Feeling insecure, underdressed, and completely out of place, I advanced in line until I saw the Vice President of the United States standing in front of me. I walked forward and shook her hand.

Kamala Harris was a lot shorter than I expected–with heels on, she was only my height. Just after I stuttered my name to her and walked away disoriented, she called me back–my mom, behind me in line, had filled the Vice President in on some of my civic activities. 

“I had no idea that you did all that!” Harris told me. “Wow, seriously. Thank you. Thank you so much.” I’m told that we talked for nearly two minutes–quite a lot of the Vice President’s time–and that it was a conversation that extended far beyond a simple thank-you. Shell-shocked at the time, I now remember little of it. What I do remember is that I walked away surprised and excited that she cared.

Later, after her speech, Vice President Harris walked right into the crowd. She listened and talked to every person that she could. She spent more time on the floor than her security detail was obviously comfortable with.

Yeah, shaking hands and kissing babies is a politician’s job–I remain somewhat cynical about that. However, there was passion and genuine care in Harris’ voice. It was obvious that Kamala Harris was listening with action in mind.

So then, I looked into what VP Harris was doing.

After seeing the Vice President’s interest, I looked to see if she was carrying it into action. The answer? Yes, absolutely.

VP Harris has a genuine passion for service. Long before she could have predicted her presidential candidacy, the VP made a point to visit the states most affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She reaffirmed her pledge to fight for reproductive freedoms and comforted the communities most impacted, including ours in Arizona.

Vice President Harris carries community members’ concerns into her legislative duties. She has fought hard to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. From making Election Day a national holiday to expanding same-day registration and reforming campaign finance, the legislation, if passed, would make it easier for all American citizens to participate in their democracy. Here in Arizona, where attempts to restrict voting rights are commonplace, the Freedom to Vote Act would have a profound impact.

She’s tackled everything from gun violence to inflation with tie-breaking votes and bold leadership. As she translates her words into action, she advocates for our community and takes our values to heart.

At first, I saw Kamala Harris as just another politician. Now, I see who she is.

We need people in power who truly care about our country and who respect and fight for all of its communities. Kamala Harris is one of them. Her genuine passion for service is what we need to unify an increasingly divided country–her commitment to action is what we need to move us from the past into today.