Making a Difference Careers in Politics

Do you get an adrenaline rush when you consider:

* images of young people at the World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle, Washington, protesting the trade of products made by child labor?

* hundreds of people vowing to block the return to Cuba of a 6-yearold boy named Elian Gonzalez?

* protesters attempting to block Makah Indians from resuming whaling off the coast of Washington for the first time after more than 70 years?

What issues do you get involved in? Perhaps you'd like to see more funding for AIDS research, or you feel strongly about environmental issues. Maybe you have views on gun reform or affirmative action. Whether your opinions are liberal, conservative, a little of both, or neither, a career in politics offers you the opportunity to make a difference in your community.

Do you jump right into these debates, feet first? If so, maybe you should consider a career in politics!

Controversy and politics go hand in hand. That's because everyone has a different opinion! Politicians are those community-minded individuals who are elected by the public to run various levels of government--and they can't shy away from hot topics. It's their job to ensure the smooth running of all our essential services and many of our social service agencies. They enact laws designed to guarantee our freedom and general welfare. Politicians face new challenges every day!

Making an impact in politics doesn't mean you have to run for President of the United States--or run for any office at all. There are 535 senators and representatives, approximately 7,500 state legislators, and 11,000 city managers. All of these positions require a large staff of people in various support roles. Congressional committees, the major political parties, and other political organizations all employ staff--lobbyists, speechwriters, economists, attorneys, fundraisers, and administrators. Locally, the mayor and councilpersons need staff, too.

People enter the political arena for a variety of reasons, but they all share the same motive--they want to make a difference. Politicians are a passionate group. Their strong feelings about democracy or a specific issue get them involved in government in the first place. In the world's largest democracy, there are many ways to make a difference in politics--and you're never too young to get involved.

Washington Welcomes Students

Would you like to visit the Pentagon, the Supreme Court, the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, Arlington National Cemetery, or the Holocaust Museum? Ever wonder how interesting it might be to hobnob with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Secretary, a senator or two, the director of NASA, or a host of other political bigwigs? Many organizations and leadership groups give young people the opportunity to do exactly that.

Marina Severinovsky and Cory Tull are two 17-year-olds who've rubbed shoulders with senators and ambassadors in Washington, D.C. They are among the 100 or so students selected every year to spend a week in Washington, D.C., as delegates of the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). The USSYP, funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, is one of several programs designed to help young people understand the workings of government, and to actively involve young people in the democratic process.

Both Marina and Cory have a passion for politics. Marina, a student at Island Trees High School in Levittown, Long Island, was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and came to the United States with her family as a refugee at age 7. "Because of our history in a communist government, my family and I are very grateful for the privileges of democracy. Therefore, I have always made it a point to be an active citizen."

And active she is. Not only has Marina interned with her local legislator and her state senator, she has been involved in student government, and is presently editor of her school paper, valedictorian of her graduating class, and a published writer.

Her involvement in community service and politics isn't likely to end when she leaves high school, either, Marina plans to attend Columbia University as a political science and economics major with the long-term goal of becoming a corporate lawyer. Marina says she "will always be involved in government in some capacity, and will perhaps run for some kind of office." Who knows? We might even see her on the Supreme Court.

Of her trip to Washington, Marina says she loved "being so immersed in government and political activity for a week." And exactly what did the Washington political crowd have to say to these young people? Says Marina, "The main message we got from everyone is that leadership is important. That is a great message to instill in young people, the idea that anyone from any background should be able to serve his or her country in government."

Marina also reports that she "particularly enjoyed being able to meet so many amazing young people from all over the country." One of the people Marina met was Cory Tull, a USSYP delegate from Delaware. Cory is vice-president of the senior class at St. Mark's High School in Wilmington. He is president of the law club, active in Model United Nations, a member of the National Honor Society, and finance chairman of the St. Mark's Chapter of Blue/Gold, "a fund-raising organization that promotes awareness of children with mental retardation."

Cory attributes his interest in the democratic process to his politically active parents. Before being appointed a Justice of the Peace, Cory's father worked on Delaware Senator Joe Biden's staff and ran Biden's campaign for the U.S. House. His mother ran for Congress in 1994, unsuccessfully, and is now a major fundraiser for Ruth Ann Minner, the likely successor to current Delaware Governor Tom Carper.

Cory strongly encourages his peers to get involved. "Young people need to realize that they have a say in what goes on in our country. Those who do not take part in political activity and do not vote on election day are merely cheating themselves."

Though he had already been "active and mesmerized by politics," Cory's trip to Washington, D.C., as a USSYP delegate served to reinforce his commitment to public service. He plans to attend Georgetown University, possibly economics. Though Cory doesn't know where his interest in politics will take him, he says, "Whatever career I pursue, I definitely plan to be in politics."

Politics and Possibilities

Karl Frisch wasn't all that interested in politics until he joined a YMCA-sponsored group called Youth and Government. Since completing the program, he has become increasingly involved in politics, serving as Finance Director on Congressman Jim Nussle's re-election campaign in Iowa, and as a member of the national field staff for Senator John McCain's Presidential campaign in 2000.

Now a 22-year-old political consultant, Karl believes it is important to meet people from various backgrounds. His involvement in Youth and Government gave him that opportunity--members of Youth and Government come from all walks of life and all socioeconomic backgrounds. "It's hard to understand your neighbors," he says, "if you've never been exposed to other people."

It might be hard to believe that Karl once had an intense fear of public speaking. Now, he says, he "can speak to 25,000 people and not feel at all uptight about it."

Next year, Karl plans to return to school and complete an undergraduate degree. Post-secondary education is vital in politics. According to Blythe Camenson's book, Careers for Born Leaders, "Virtually all town, city, and county managers have at least bachelor's degrees and many hold master's degrees." Degrees commonly held by politicians are in political science, history, law, and public administration, but any post-secondary education will benefit your career.

"Participation in leadership programs gives you an understanding of the political system, teaches you public-speaking skills, and helps you learn excellent research skills. It also can help you get into a good college and reach your career goals, whatever they are," says Karl. About his experience working on Senator McCain's presidential bid, he says, "I was working close to 120 hours a week, but it was well worth it. I learned a lot about organizing from he grass roots level."

Karl's involvement in politics has had an impact on his own career. Today, he is an associate partner in a political consulting company that produces television and radio commercials, direct mail, direct mail videos, and Web site design. He also raises funds for political candidates.

If a career in politics interests you, start now. Join your student government. Get involved in a political campaign. Volunteer for a nonprofit organization or a political action group. Consider applying for an internship as a page with a congressman or senator. Join a leadership program! Not only will you be contributing to your community, you will be developing the skills you will need to enter politics down the road.

See What Politics Is Luke

A leadership program is more than just touring the nation's capital, looking at monuments, or listening to speakers. Kristen McCullough, a senior class council vice-president at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Illinois, found that out. Last year she spent five days in the nation's capital as part of the 1999 National Young Leaders Conference, sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. "We spent the week learning about different parts of government and role-played in each one," she said.

For Kristen, that meant participating in a mock trial, for example, and in a mock cabinet meeting at which cabinet members faced a nuclear weapons crisis. The culminating event was a Mock Congress. For this, Kristen chaired the agricultural committee that was trying to shape a tobacco reform bill. Following the example of the real Congress, she and her fellow leaders argued each and every amendment. She also met Senator Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and her U.S. Representative, Don Manzullo, "who dropped everything for us."

Kristen now serves as an alumni representative for the National Young Leaders Conference. "Three times a year, I go around to schools and tell students about the program. I attend student council meetings and meet kids who are leaders in their schools. Then I am able to recommend them to the program."

Check out these URLs

The Internet is a virtual meeting place for political information and political viewpoints. No matter which issue you want to pursue, you'll be able to find something that interests you on the Internet. Virtually every political party in the United States--and there are more than you might think--has a Web site. Just type in the party name on any search engine.

These two sites let you take a quiz to see just where you fit on the political spectrum.

www.self-gov.org/quiz.html

www.madrabbit.net/webrabbit/quizshow.html

The American Philanthropy Review Web site lets you get in on some political discussions, and even has a career center for politically minded individuals.

http://philanthropysearch.com/charitychannel/

Then there's the Political Site of the Day, where there's always something new!

www.aboutpolitics.com/

Search out any newsgroup with the word "politics" in it, and you'll discover the issues people are talking about all around the world!

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