Personal Statement

I first became involved in addressing issues of civic engagement and democratic participation by registering students to vote during my freshman year of college. As a child, I grew up watching the news with my parents, but never fully realized the role of individuals in government and the everyday ramifications of politics until I began understanding issues central to the 2016 presidential election. Although I wasn't old enough to vote, I knew that I needed to get involved somehow, and took action registering other students to vote. It was then that I discovered the lackluster attitude of many of my peers pertaining to their role in politics, and the negative ideologies they subscribed to surrounding the democratic system. On campus, I work for the office of Civic engagement planning and attending events to encourage students to become informed about politics. I also volunteer for the Andrew Goodman Foundation to make it easier for students to vote through campus initiatives, tabling, and registration events. I intend to continue my work with Civic engagement and political involvement throughout and beyond college, as I believe that individuals should shape the world they live in, rather than letting it simply exist around them.