Mia Crankfield: Working in Duality
For my breakaway, I participated in the 2022 Washington Semester Program cohort. I lived in Washington, DC, and interned at NFIB, the National Federation of Independent Businesses. NFIB is a lobbying firm that advocates for small businesses across the United States. They lobby politicians to implement business-friendly policies and oppose anti-business regulation and provide campaign contributions.
During a weekly department meeting, the lobbyist discussed the Build Back Better Act, which had three provisions that concerned NFIB. Those provisions included a small business surtax, an increase in labor fines, and a federal program for family and medical leave. NFIB’s urge to remove the Federal Paid Family and Medical Leave program introduced a conflict between myself and my workplace.
From my perspective, I believe that regardless of the employer's size, employees should not have to jump through hoops to receive benefits. This program would have helped eliminate potential challenges. This ideal was not shared. As I sat in the meeting I could not help but feel guilty. I was an intern for an organization that more times than not, advocated on behalf of policies I did not personally agree with. Yet, despite this, I enjoyed working for them.
Following the meeting, I asked my supervisor about the provision and why the program would be a disadvantage for employers. My supervisor explained that the program would restrict flexibility for small business owners with less than fifty workers, which would increase businesses' labor shortages and reduce business owners' income. After the conversation, I still supported the program, but I could understand why it would be a disadvantage for some business owners.
As a political science major I am no stranger to conflict. Prior to this moment, I believed that most conflicts only had two sides, one that was right and one that was wrong. However, this particular moment of conflict taught me about the importance of duality: two things can be true at the same time. In the case of the FMLA program, it is true that employees should be able to receive compensation without difficulty. However, at the same time, the program would have been a disadvantage for small business owners.
In many ways, my experiences during my breakaway were a collection of experiences that put me in environments that challenged my values and beliefs. Moments that provided me with opportunities for trial and error. Once I understood that conflict often has two truths, I began to learn how to utilize it to challenge myself and others. I learned that two things can be true at the same time. I could disagree with the opinions of my workplace while still being able to learn and enjoy my experience.
In my experience there is something about allowing yourself to be around people whose ideals are not the same as yours and actively trying to understand their perspective that is so beneficial.
Humans are not one-dimensional. We are constantly evolving and conflict can help us to do that. While I am not saying go out and work somewhere that completely contrasts against all of your beliefs and values. I am also not saying that every conflict warrants duality. There is a limit to everything. I am simply saying that sometimes conflict can deepen your understanding of your values and beliefs. I have been guilty of putting myself in an echo chamber by only surrounding myself with people who share my beliefs. But by doing so I risked stunting my growth
My breakaway gave me the ability to escape my echo chamber and it is an experience that I will forever be grateful for.
Mia Crankfield is a senior political science major graduating in May 2023. Her breakaway was spent interning with the National Federation of Independent Business in Washington, DC. After graduation, she plans on attending law school.