Eleven Congressmen made time for the annual IACPA reception on July 13. Seen in the photo, in a wheelchair, is Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), who said he first came to Capitol Hill in 1985 and then again in 1987 as an intern with a U.S. Senator.

Thank you for inviting me. There is an old saying in politics that everything may have been said but everyone has said it. So I want to welcome you to Capitol Hill and thank you for participating in this program.

Each of you should be proud that you are taking the time and making the effort to be here and learn about government and politics and get to know the process a little better. Just to tell you a little bit about myself, I first came to Capitol Hill in the mid-eighties in 1985 and again in 1987 as an intern for our then United States Senator Claiborne Pell, who many of you may recognize the name as being father of the Pell Grant.

I was so inspired by the opportunity to be here and see how the process works. It gave me behind the scenes look at government that I began to think even more seriously that I might like to do this as a career someday and lo and behold a short 15 or 16 years later I was elected to the United States Congress and I’ve been honored to serve my district through my second term and I am now running for my third. So you never know where internships are going to lead so I always encourage my people to take advantage of all of them that come your way.

I’m privileged to have a bright young lady, Ketaki, in my office. Ketaki is interning with us and we are going to work her hard but I hope she learns a lot and I’m sure that is the same for all of you. And know that you have a lot to give. What is so important in life is to understand that irrespective of what people’s backgrounds are or challenges you may have faced that you are capable of doing and being anything you want to.

No one gets through life without facing challenges and yet we are all capable of overcoming those challenges so as life throws these things your way, I hope you remember my story and that you too will overcome challenges and go on to do great things if you choose to with your life.

But I challenge you here today as you are learning about the process of government to leave here and not forget to give something back. To go out in the world and make a difference, make your mark. I know the one thing that we have inside of us is a special gift. Something that we all have that we can do better than anyone else and the challenge in life is to find out what the gift is and develop it and share it with the world.

Please share your gift and your talent to make this world better than the way you found it. There are obviously many difficult and sometimes sad challenges that we have to overcome in the world but you can change it and as one great man said, “If you want to see change in the world, be the change that you want to see.” I know that is a wonderful quote from Gandhi. Be the change you want to see in the world and let’s make it a better place. Thank you very much.