Ed. note: This post is part of the Spotlight on Commerce series highlighting members of the Department of Commerce and their contributions to building a middle class economy in honor of Asian Pacific Islander Month

Guest blog post by Aparna Paladugu, Senior Advisor, Industry and Analysis, International Trade Administration

My commitment to public service is a direct result of my parents, who emigrated from India to Boston, Massachusetts, two years before I was born. Throughout my childhood, both of my parents instilled in me a strong sense of public service and a desire to give back to our country, which gave our family so many opportunities. My parents worked tirelessly to give us a better life here in America. My father passed away from cancer when I was in high school, but he told me the best job of his entire career as an engineer, was serving as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He encouraged both my brother and me to find ways to serve our country.
 
Over the last three and a half years, I have served in various roles at the Department of Commerce. I currently serve as Senior Advisor for Industry and Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). ITA works to strengthen the global competitiveness of U.S. industry, promote trade and investment, and ensure fair trade through the through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements. Before coming to ITA, I served as Special Assistant in the Secretary’s Office and Special Advisor in the Deputy Secretary’s Office, working with our current Deputy Secretary Bruce Andrews in both of these roles. Through these experiences, I was fortunate to be a part of many key events, including the confirmation of Secretary Pritzker and Deputy Secretary Andrews; and the 2015 SelectUSA Summit.
 
From my experiences at Commerce, I have had the opportunity to gain perspective at all levels, from the Secretary’s Office to a bureau like ITA, on the work that the Department does every day to help American businesses and the American people. I feel fortunate to work at a Department as unique as Commerce – with the wide range of expertise spanning from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Census Bureau, to the Patent and Trademark Office where my father used to work, the opportunities to learn are endless, and the Department’s output is immeasurable.
 
Despite being born in the United States, I have been fortunate that my parents taught me about my Indian heritage, including visits to India to meet my relatives and teaching me our native language (Telugu). During AAPI Heritage Month, I encourage all of you to celebrate ‎the many contributions of Asian American and Pacific islanders in the United States. Coming from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds, Asian Americans are a key part of our country’s culture and success, which I am proud to be a part of.
 
The best advice I can give to younger generations is that public service is a rare and unique opportunity. It may not be the easiest road to choose, but I encourage you to consider taking a chance and giving it a try because it has the possibility to be the most rewarding experience of your life.