Dinner With Jefferson by Ian

Dinner With Jefferson by Ian - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

One of the most important agreements in the formative years of the United States, the establishment of a national bank, was made over dinner. The host for that dinner would later become President, expand the country westward, and impact the history of the United States. His name was Thomas Jefferson. A scholar, farmer, and businessman, Thomas Jefferson was an excellent leader, accomplished statesman, and he is one of my personal heroes. He lived a full life, and not all of it is recorded in the history books. If I could have dinner with any figure from history, it would be Mr. Jefferson. I believe he would be an excellent source of wisdom on topics relating to leadership, diplomacy, and the courage to fight for his beliefs.
There is no doubt that Jefferson was a leader. He was part of the Continental Congress, helping to guide the nation through the revolution. He served as the Governor of Virginia during the war, and was a key part of drafting the Constitution once the United States had won its freedom. All of his roles required him to manage large numbers of people and direct them in their individual endeavors in a way that benefited the whole country. He had experience with the disorder of the colonial government, and with the bureaucracy that came after the revolution. I would like to hear just a little of Jefferson's advice or a few of his memories. As a young adult heading to college, any sort of inspiration or guidance in leadership would help me form my behavior and become a leader both during and after college.
When Thomas Jefferson entered the White House, the United States was experiencing a lot of political division, throwing Congress into disarray and leaving the President to bridge the gap between the two young political parties. Jefferson had to somehow resolve the differences of the country while strengthening America to compete with Britain. Bringing the country together required a very specific type of leadership: diplomacy. The politicians were at each others' throats, and it would take years of careful negotiations and appeasements to both sides in order for anything to be accomplished. Thomas Jefferson was the man for the job. If I could sit down to dinner with one of the greatest diplomats in American history, there are a few things I'd want to find out. How did he develop his skills? How does one deal with opponents that are so ideologically polarized? I believe that negotiating and bargaining are key in most professional environments, and it's difficult to imagine a more successful professional than Thomas Jefferson.
Along with his skills as a negotiator and leader, Thomas Jefferson possessed a devotion to his cause and the courage to fight for what he believed in. When Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he emotionally expounded the many grievances the American people had with the British government. Many Americans were angry, but Jefferson showed his courage and resolve by devoting himself to the cause of American independence, first as a leader within the Continental Congress and then as a leader of the wartime government. Jefferson maintained his public leadership role despite the threat from Britain and the ire of some of his fellow colonists. He was an enemy of the most powerful empire on earth, and had he failed, he would have been hung as a traitor. Despite all this, Jefferson chose to pursue freedom for America, because he believed it was good and right. I've certainly never faced that kind of challenge, and I'm sure Mr. Jefferson would have many wise words on the subject.
Though I will never get the chance, sitting down at dinner with Thomas Jefferson would be a life-changing experience. I feel that President Jefferson, through his writings and political philosophy, has already impacted my life. I am currently at a point of self-determination, where I can finally begin to understand myself, including my own political views. Exploring the writings of the founders of my country, Thomas Jefferson in particular, has helped me develop the foundation of my personal beliefs. If I could have dinner with President Jefferson, I would thank him for his efforts, both in politics and revolution, that have reached across two centuries to touch me today.