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
