America, a Redemption Story by Senator Tim Scott

Author:Senator Tim Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2022-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

OLD-SCHOOL, KID-N-PLAY, CABBAGE-PATCH SHUFFLE

The first time I met Tim Scott, it was brutal. I mean, it was a “let me please die in peace now” moment. I have interviewed for numerous jobs over the years, and I am quite proficient at it. It’s one of the places where I shine. Unfortunately, that day, I literally had the worst interview of my life.

Over the last couple of pages, Tim had painted an accurate picture of my life. I’d hit what I thought was rock bottom, and I had been living there for a while. My emotional stability was wavering, and my confidence was tested daily.

Tim, on the other hand, had just been elected to Congress, and though he had copious experience as a county councilman and a state house representative in Charleston, he had no idea what he was about to face in Washington.

What Tim didn’t tell you is that before I worked as a deputy district attorney in Colorado, I’d worked as a scheduler for my home state senator, Wayne Allard, in his DC office. Although I left the Hill in an administrative function, I knew I was qualified to work as a policy staffer. I merely needed to convince Tim of this fact. And, in that moment, I believed my chic Target attire and I were going to do just that.

Because he was still congressman-elect, Tim didn’t have an office. He was conducting all his interviews in a DC hotel ballroom. When I walked in, Tim stood and greeted me. “Hey, you must be Jennifer. Thanks for making it in.” Joe McKeown followed me in from the conference room just outside and took a seat beside Tim.

“Of course. Yes. Thank you for the opportunity.”

“I have to be honest,” Tim said as he took a seat. “I looked through your résumé, and I’m not quite sure why we are meeting.”

Welp. There went my great start. “I think if you look at my experience as a district attorney—”

“It says you’re from Colorado. Have you ever spent any time down south?”

“Absolutely. Yes. I’ve been to Miami a couple of times.”

“I’m sorry. What?” Tim and Joe shared a look I didn’t quite understand.

“I’ve been to . . . Miami?” I hesitated as an amused look entered Tim’s eyes. In my defense, Miami is technically south of Washington, DC.

Tim couldn’t help himself. He laughed. He didn’t intend to be mean. He simply couldn’t stop his authentic reaction.

I have a decent sense of humor and thick skin. But on that day, looking up at the world from rock bottom, Tim’s laughter felt cruel.

He could see I was upset, and he immediately apologized. “I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t have laughed. It’s just that Miami isn’t really ‘south’ in the way I mean it.” Tim continued scanning my résumé. “Have you ever worked for an elected official?”

“Yes, of course,” I said. I’d worked for a senator as well as an elected district attorney, so I was ready.

“Well, it says here you were just a scheduler.”

Oh. At that moment I realized Tim Scott had no real idea how a congressional office was run.

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