My Road to Political Science by Jack

My Road to Political Science by Jack - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Political science is the academic subject that interests me most. It is the major that best aligns with my goal of becoming a criminal defense attorney and advocating both for the individual rights of my clients and for a fairer criminal justice system. An effective criminal justice advocate needs an understanding of policymaking and how change is achieved, which I have gained through my coursework and volunteer activities.

In my college class on Introduction to Government, I learned about civil disobedience and how activists like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were influenced by Henry David Thoreau. I saw how Thoreau used nonviolent political protest to bring about social change through his refusal to pay taxes to a government that he did not support.

In my AP Government class, we ran a mock election that aimed to give us firsthand knowledge of the political process. My own role was Chairman of the Democratic Party. I led our “Iowa Caucus” and our “Democratic National Convention” to formally select our party nominee (who went on to win the general election).

But my involvement with the political process is not limited to classroom simulations. During the last presidential election, I volunteered with the Democratic party by making calls to registered party members. I gave information on the nearest polling places and also discussed the party’s talking points on the issues. I spoke with voters from around the country in important swing states.

I also volunteered as a U.S. Census Youth Ambassador. My role was to raise awareness of the importance of participating in the U.S. Census. I spoke with people coming to a local food bank and my neighborhood council meeting. Later, I wrote a letter that was published in my local newspaper. I discussed how participating in the census is vital to ensure proportional congressional representation and funding for our community.

Majoring in political science would allow me to continue to mix classroom learning with real world experience in advocacy. I see this step as a gateway to an exciting and rewarding career as a criminal justice advocate.