“Do not leave the arena to fools.” –Toni Cade Bambara

What a beautiful thought. And a powerful message.

To not just participate in the conversation, but to shape it. To bring your skills, knowledge, and heart to the table to do good.

The arena can take many forms: the workplace, a nonprofit organization, the kitchen, or a public office. The challenge is to step into it with assurance, not trepidation.

This can be intimidating, especially if it’s a new arena. In 2007, I entered a particularly intriguing one. Politics. An English major fresh out of college and out of a rocky break-up, I decided to explore unfamiliar territory. The girl dreaming of writing a novel signed on as deputy finance director for Steve Beshear’s Kentucky governor campaign. (Writers take note: there’s lots of good material to be found on campaigns.) With zero experience in fundraising, I was initially paralyzed by the fear of being unqualified.

Soon, however, I got my bearings, helped along by long hours and wise-cracking colleagues. Lesson after valuable lesson followed, and by the time the team poured celebratory bourbon on Election Night, I felt like I had earned it. It has now been seven and a half years, and I am still working for Governor Beshear, having served in roles from assistant speechwriter to scheduling director.

As I enter the Capitol building in the mornings, Bambara’s words echo in my mind.

Whether we wield a gavel or a wooden spoon, we’re meant to do it with courage and aplomb. Have you abandoned your arena? Or are you seizing it?

Elizabeth Roach is a graduate of Furman University and the Columbia University Publishing Program. She has worked in Kentucky government and politics for more than seven years and is currently Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s scheduling director. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Elizabeth is a frequent traveler who writes freelance articles about bourbon, baking, and her culinary adventures. elizabethroachwriter.com