"Krista Powers '02 is a 'sole survivor,' having attended Chapin all the way from Kindergarten through Class 12," Nicky Stout Chapin '52 pointed out while introducing her to the Upper School during the 14th annual Nicky Chapin Lecture.
"And she's wearing a green dress. Guess which team she was on?" The current Green team cheered in response.
While a student at Chapin, Ms. Powers' classmates predicted that she would be a United States Senator in 20 years. They weren't too far off. She currently serves as the Majority Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security, in the United States House of Representatives. Ms. Powers previously served on two presidential campaigns, as Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Jeffrey S. Chiesa.
"Look to your right and left," Ms. Powers said to the Upper School attendees. "You ladies will be the next generation of Chapin leaders, and we look forward to the day that you are speaking to our own daughters about your many accomplishments."
Ms. Powers, who visited Chapin to share her political experience and discuss how Congress keeps America safe, credits Chapin for teaching her how to gather facts, ask questions, present with confidence and persuade, all skills she continues to use every day.
The students were enthralled as the alumna discussed how her committee upholds its duty to ensure our safety and prevent future tragedies like 9/11. Ms. Powers stated the importance of congressional oversight and how it maintains checks and balances in our government through congressional hearings, legislation and investigations. "Security keeps me up at night. Our work can have life-saving implications. I am very passionate about what I do," she explained. "I'm also probably the only person who watches CSPAN for fun when I get home at night," she added with a laugh.
Ms. Powers proudly shared her committee's most recent accomplishment, fighting for Federal Air Marshals to be allowed on all commercial flights to and from Cuba. It was a six-month battle full of sifting through paperwork and asking tough questions, but in the end it led to a victory.
"You should never feel shy about asking too many questions, or being the person who keeps digging after others have walked away. Be persistent," Ms. Powers declared.
Thoughtful questions were plentiful. How, for example, was Ms. Powers able to come back from a drop in confidence? "You have to keep fighting," she replied. "The setback isn't what defines you; it's what you do tomorrow." She was also asked how she is treated as a woman in government. "It can be frustrating but you have to be tough. You can't always control how you are treated. You can only control what you do."
Ms. Powers ended with some words of wisdom on confidence:
"No matter what you choose to do in life, if you don't have confidence in yourself it will be hard to succeed at anything. Confidence requires maintenance. When you leave Chapin, you need to surround yourself with people who inspire you to achieve your goals and overcome roadblocks. As our beloved Mrs. Berendsen once said, 'Stand up and be counted.'"
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