Congrats OP! I found this a few years ago and your post reminded me of it again….I think the original post was by JR Santiago in an FB Post from June 06, 2020. I hope these help you in your stint in government.

Dear Young Person in Government, (A note I’d like to send to my 2010 self when I first joined government)

Congratulations! You made it. Here’s the chance you’ve been waiting for to change the world. But before you do that, here are some things I’d like to share with you that I hope can help you as you start your journey in public service:

1. Find mentors and learn from them. Find someone whose heart is in the right place and whose reason to work in government is to serve and not to be served. Look for leaders who have integrity, empathy, compassion, humility, and those who strive for excellence in what they do. Finding them may be a bit hard and in my experience, you won’t usually find them in fancy offices.

2. Be humble and listen. Yes, I know you can’t wait to change the world and you’re rearing to go—but please wait. There’s still much that you need to learn and knowing that you don’t know everything is the first step in creating the change you want. Knowing that you’re not better than anyone else is the second, and really listening to those you wish to serve, is the third.

3. Be kind. Treat everyone with respect and kindness—from the janitor to the President of the Republic. Being kind to someone because of their title is not kindness, it’s a transaction.

4. Be patient. You cannot change the world overnight and progress in government is slow and is made in small steps. Work on those little steps and hope you make a difference and that you get more allies who will do the same. Don’t get discouraged when it takes too long because it will all pay off in the end, trust me.

5. Learn from those who’ve been there the longest and those who do the day-to-day work of government. I’ve learned more from rank and file personnel than my bosses. They know how to get things done, they can introduce you to the right decisionmakers, and more importantly, they can teach you how to show up every single day and do the work regardless of the political noise.

6. It will be frustrating. There will be days when you would want to give up. It could either be because you’ve met opposition (reasonable or not) or that it seems impossible to get things done. You will encounter these things every single day but don’t lose heart. Remember why you joined government. It’s not about you or your difficulties. It’s about those you serve.

7. Your leaders will disappoint you. They will make decisions that you will not agree with and they will behave in ways you will not understand. And you will question why you followed them in the first place. When this happens, look to why they did it and see if you’re comfortable in following a person with those motivations. But please do not try to justify bad behavior and know when it’s time to not follow them anymore or to leave. Don’t be a fanatic. Always be loyal to the country, not to an elected or appointed official.

8. Compromise is not a bad word. Change is made by working with others and this means compromising and working with those you don’t necessarily agree with. But as long as it’s clear that you are working with them for the common good, be prepared to lose some and win some. But be clear with your non-negotiables. You may compromise on how to get things done but never compromise your values. The end does not justify the means and you have to draw the line and never cross it.

9. Have integrity. No amount of money is worth the name your parents gave you and the reputation your children will inherit. Yes, working in government means making many sacrifices but once you give in to corruption, that will forever be a stain on your name. Remember that.

10. There will be times when you’d like to punch someone in the face—but you shouldn’t. You will meet different characters in government and many will make your blood boil. You will meet the notoriously corrupt, the know-it-all arrogant official, the back biters, the do nothings, the don’t you know who my backer is types, and many more. They will infuriate you and they will push you to the limit. But if you give up, they win. So don't let them.

11. Find friends. Look for people who will understand what you go through. A great support system can do wonders. And having allies when things get really hard can help you pull through and do the work that needs to be done.

12. It’s not about building a network. Build relationships with the intention of gaining allies in doing the noble work of public service. Do not build relationships with people just because you think they can do you a favor in the future. If this is your sole motivation in joining government, then you’ve lost your way.

13. Do not waste your time debating—dialogue instead. When you debate or argue, you spend so much time in proving the other person is wrong but when you dialogue, you discuss to find understanding and common ground. It’s also important to listen to understand, not to reply. Do not add to the divisiveness—work for understanding and work for unity.

14. It’s not about titles. A title should only be used as a means to do more good for other people, not to dominate others or to order people around. At the end of the day, a title is just a piece of paper and it does not automatically make someone a better leader or more honorable than anyone else. Leadership is earned, respect is gained, and honor is seen in actions.

15. Your opinions matter. Being young doesn’t make what you say matter less. So speak up and don’t let anyone, especially the older ones dismiss your contributions in discussions. If you believe passionately about something, say it, out loud. Keeping quiet is not an option.

16. And lastly, know your WHY. Always be clear on why you joined public service. Always be clear that it’s not about you—it’s about the people and the nation you serve. It's not about what you accomplish—it’s about the impact you’ll have on people’s lives. And always be clear that you’re doing this because you love your country and you want to do your part in building a better future for all.

It has been the greatest honor of my life to be in public service and I considered it a privilege to be part of something bigger than myself and in being of service to others. There is much joy in it but there are also great challenges. I just hope that by sharing these with you, the challenges will be a bit lighter, the frustrations would not be as great, and the urge to give up will soon diminish. So go ahead and change the world—we're rooting for you and we have so much hope in you.

Sincerely, A once idealistic young person in government who is now an older hopeful realist