Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship

I love politics for a lot of the same reasons that I assume Ryan did. I love the dialogue, the arguments, and the new opinions. I feel best after a political discussion when someone changed my mind and presented me with an idea that challenged my own beliefs. Politics and government can be so toxic and hateful, especially at the highest levels. I believe that our current environment has flaws. I know that I alone can not change that. Those changes come from individuals having conversations. My hope for college is to go have political discussions. I plan on attending school in Washington DC, an area filled with political minds. I know that I am happiest when I am surrounded by people who are interested in politics, government, and history. I first realized this when I had the opportunity to attend California Boys State. This is the largest mock-government program in California and is put on by the American Legion. This was a week spent strictly with people like Ryan and myself. I often found myself and the other kids, discussing issues such as tax policy, school police officers, and healthcare late into the night. As a kid who likes politics, it was the best week of the year. Every great politician has been able to have a conversation and come to an agreement. We have seen this throughout American History. From Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson’s compromise over the National bank and the location of the Capital to more modern history with the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. All of America’s greatest leaders have been able to get in a room and compromise. It is what has kept our country together for over two centuries. With my college education, I want to be able to be in those rooms. I want to see where the deals get made. Hear the conversations that change the course of history. I know those are the conversations that change the world, I just want a seat at the table. At the end of the day, politics is about helping people. Individuals elect politicians to better their lives. I believe that current politicians do not have this in mind. One of my political heroes is not a name that you would have heard on the news. Her name is Karen Tedford and she is now the head of voter outreach in Contra Costa County. I first met Karen when I was helping with my school’s voter registration day. After introductions, we instantly clicked. Karen showed me the impact that the government can have on an individual's life. Karen was a longtime case manager for Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher. I was lucky enough to hear her stories of fighting for her constituents. She told me tales of how she trapped members of the labor department in their offices until they helped her constituents, or how she threatened to step on the toes of the joint chiefs if they did not help veterans with PTSD. I know that if I can do half the good she can, I can make an impact in my community. Politics, government, and history are what I am passionate about. I stay up late watching youtube videos and try to debate with any adult I see. I simply can not get enough of any of it. I know that given the opportunity, I can help make a change. I just want to be given the chance to make that happen.

Hi, I am Sydnie VanArsdale and I am going to be attending Washburn University fall of 2023 for Political Science. I am a self-proclaimed nerd, I love reading, history, international policy, debate, and just intaking knowledge. I am also a self-proclaimed plethora of useless information or at least that is what I am to a lot of people. I would say I know a pretty nice amount about political science and I will never admit I know everything because that is true, I will never know everything about it but that won't stop me from learning more about it whenever I get an option. I know you are probably looking for some type of essay about how democracy has affected our everyday lives or some vast, jargon-sounding idea that makes the world better or rather how it can but that is not what this will be. My personal thought behind how the world can become a better place based on what I have learned through the topics stated in the prompt is simply, we as people need a more open mind. I am well aware that many people believe or even do have rather open minds when it comes to many topics but when you look at history all of the truly open-minded civilizations have been the most successful. For example the Romans, they traveled all around or at least as far as all around was for them, they discovered new lands, new people, new everything and were willing to incorporate many of the concepts and items into their every day lives. Although they did not lack their issues they still were so incredibly prosperous and innovative simply from their open-mindedness. That is a quality that the people in our time lack drastically, everyone thinks they know everything and are constantly correct, it is there way or no way and due to this, although we are very advanced, we have slowed down innovation because we are not willing to listen to possibilities. This could be a true game changer in my opinion when it comes to diplomacy, social issues, and especially war we just must be willing to implement it.