A Year's Difference

I still remember when I first changed my major/minor combination to International Studies and Political Science feeling uncertain about the future.  What sort of work could I find with that combination?  What if I lose my enthusiasm for the subject like I did with my previous major?  How happy could I be with whatever work I find in this area?

It has been one year since then and I am happy to say that I will be graduating in the spring of 2013.  Better yet, this semester I have started working for Kentucky Campus Compact on the Campus Election Engagement Project.  The project is focused on increasing voter turnout among college students in Kentucky, providing non-partisan information on the various issues, and getting Kentucky students more involved with politics.  This job is such an excellent opportunity for me to develop the necessary professional skills and contacts for me to succeed in life after NKU.  More importantly, it gives me the chance to apply the knowledge I have gained from the various classes I have taken through the Political Science Department.  Right now, I am working on building this project’s foundation so that it can be a core part of elections in Kentucky for years to come.  Words cannot express how thrilling this opportunity is for me and if it was not for the background I have developed while working on my minor I am sure that I would not have been trusted with this position.

If I could think of any advice for someone who was in the same position as me one year ago, it would be to not be afraid to pursue something you are passionate about.  As students, we tend to focus so much on that four year graduation plan that sometimes we do not stop to ask ourselves if we would be happy with the path we are on.  This was not an easy choice for me to make and, in all honesty, it will not be easy going forward either.  However, when you find something you truly care about, the work you put in becomes much more satisfying when you make the achievements.

by Matthew Moddrelle