Some people have noted that a Political Science undergraduate degree diploma is probably as useful as any other piece of scrap paper. From a pragmatic standpoint they might be right, but that excludes all the benefits and experiences I've had on the way, and how I am working to cultivate my flowers to be something more then something they invest in. In particular I want to use it to:

Be an Individual

Politics has taught me how to see a truer self. It has made more natural, encouraged me to explore the world at a greater depth, challenge myself and others, and learn every day of my life. It would be fair to say I just want to be a cowboy Democrat New York-style. Politics ultimately is the true expression of the self.

Explore

Politics made me not just explore myself, but also reflect on government, society, and the institutions that make it all up. I will continue to explore New York and see more of the state, and learn more about the government. I love New York State and what it stands for, yet at the same time I'm ready for some greener pastures and a new fresh start somewhere else. What I end up deciding will be a hard choice for me in the future.

Being a loyal democrat I want to combine both my love for rural America and for the party. Some of the most exciting places to learn more about both state and local politics would be Minnesota, South Dakota, or even Northern Vermont. Just across the lake from Burlington, I've gotten to see some of that city and learn about that legislature, and somehow the small state life is so much more refreshing then living in New York.

Free Farm Life

Nobody can even kid about living a sustainable farm life on it's own. Life is fun out at the New Land Trust as is it at my parent's rural house, and it can be an important part of life. Politics in some ways has reinforced my core values of having something that is mine, something that can built by my hands and can pass on such organic values to children.

Politics is not about rejecting or accepting technology per se: it's about compromising and living within the realities of society. I want to have a nice truck, four wheeler, snowmobile, and all of those other things that make for a good rural life. Some stock like a couple of cows and other farm animals also would be a lot of fun.

Graduate School

Once I get that sheet of paper known as a college degree in Political Science, graduate school is a real possibility. Maybe it will be about honing my skills in budgeting or other areas of politics, or maybe I will go to law school. I'm not a big fan of those unelected bureaucracies known as courts, and I've seen through my ideas how corrupt and biased judges truly can be. I don't see having an advanced degree as a requirement for success, but it might be helpful depending on what direction the world pushes me into.

Politick

Politicking is fun. Political power follows many folkways, and while some is learned in the classroom, a lot is learned elsewhere. The thing is political science got me involved in politics, and working to bring positive social change to our country. It isn't always easy, and I know I won't be able to do it all myself, I like to think how I have worked to better my world in little ways. Today I'm working hard to build bridges between Democratic organizations in Clinton County, tomorrow will define the future.

Work

Everybody has to make some money to survive in our world. Just because my formal training is in politics, it does not automatically mean I have to work in that field. Certainly though it would make sense for me after college to start as an intern in the state legislature, work my way up to an legislative assistant, and then who knows from there. Or maybe work from a temporary position in a bureaucracy, and use those skills to move up.

Regardless, I do not know if that's what I want to do for my rest of my life, as legislative work can be a lot of work for little pay. Likewise, I'm not sure if professional politics is my cup of tea with the hours it involves, despite my knowledge, physical stature and ability to talk in front of large groups of people and keep my cool. I still enjoy computer programming, and could easily transfer my skills into future computer programming or networking classes.

Write

Use my knowledge of politics and government and how it applies to pragmatic policy problems. I hope to work to enlighten the public on the great challenges our society faces, and the realities of the political processes—and how we can make them work for all concerned individuals. In my studies over the past 5 years I have learned many invaluable lesions on how to express myself in ways that are more universally understood.

Conclusions

I know I am getting a lot of benefit out of studying politics. It has changed me as an individual, and made me a far better person. Unlike some people, I do not have a hard and concrete road map, but I know I am heading in the right direction. For a creative person like me, I believe my plans are good enough, and as I change and grow I will make up further plans.