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Why did you choose to apply for this award?

I am a firm believer that in order to restore our frayed social contract and reinvigorate American democracy, we need to become bridge builders and rediscover common ground. This is a scholarship program that emphasizes cross-cultural exploration and making connections just as much as it does public service, so I felt as though this would be the perfect opportunity to develop the skills I need to be a leader in public service.

Briefly describe the work you will be doing on your fellowship.

Throughout my two years in the program, I will be invited to an ongoing speaker series to learn leadership skills from experts in public service. I will also have the opportunity to attend the annual Voyagers' Fall Summit in Chicago, where I will engage with my fellow Voyagers and learn from the people tackling our nation's most critical issues. For my actual summer voyage, I plan on going to Europe for two months to study citizens councils, which bring together people of different backgrounds and perspectives to try to find common ground on issues like climate change. My goal is to better understand how the United States can implement similar forms of participatory democracy to engender more effective policy outcomes.

What are you most looking forward to during your time as a fellow?

I am most looking forward developing my network of fellow Voyagers. These are some of the most motivated, intelligent students our nation has to offer, and the opportunity to learn from them as we move through this program together will be invaluable.

How have your experiences at Â鶹ƵµÀprepared you to apply for this award?

Whether it is the small classes or my role as ASOC Class Senator, Â鶹ƵµÀhas empowered me to embrace my full leadership potential. After two years here, I feel more prepared than ever to not just work on the issues our world faces, but to take a leadership role in this work.

What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?

After going through this application process, two things come to mind. The first is that this is a scholarship that embraces students from all majors and academic backgrounds. It doesn't matter whether you are a biology major or a politics major, or whether you only have STEM experience or have worked for several non-profits. If you are able to demonstrate a commitment to public service and effectively communicate how you can use your educational background and skills to create change, that is what is important. The second piece of advice is to make sure you spend a lot of time narrowing down the issue you hope to solve in your public service career. Just saying that you want to address climate change is not enough. Instead, explain how you can use your skills to address a specific aspect of the climate crisis, and why the Voyager Scholarship would help you achieve that.