I would like to see a world that is allows for people to disagree without becoming mortal enemies. Our two party political system has done much to cause this hostility because there is no incentive to working with people who disagree on some topics. Many Americans believe themselves to be a part of one of two political tribes, and will not associate with others who have some differing political views. Elimination of the two party system would have a large impact on partisan tension because people who disagree on some issues would have a great incentive to find areas of compromise. I believe that the entire would could be changed if the United States were to eliminate the barriers to political parties other than the Democrat and Republican. Governmental decisions of social and economic importance are made based on the zero sum game of electoral politics. As a result, mismatched political coalitions in both parties project confusing and hypocritical messages that have alienated people of all views. The proliferation of populist candidates on both sides of the political spectrum is a strong indication that Americans are looking for a change in the entire system. I believe the the election of Donald Trump as president has been misinterpreted by opportunistic leaders who have a great stake in perpetuating a flawed system. Set aside the political rhetoric and the obvious flaws of Trump as a leader; Trump's election indicated that a large number of Americans no longer trust the two party system to represent them, whether Republican or Democrat. The success of Bernie Sanders on the left was a clear indication of the hunger for any other voice than the traditional binary Republican and Democrat hypocrisy. This essay is not an endorsement of any particular point of view or political candidate. I am simply addressing the evidence that Americans are desperately looking for different voices that might represent them in the social and economic decisions of government. A better alternative to individual charismatic candidates would be a true movement to realign the way we make decisions in America. A cooperative approach to politics would cause a pervasive shift in our entire intellectual discourse, the way we consume media, and the way we treat each other as humans. It would have a cascading effect by incentivizing civility and compromise in the public sphere. For better or worse, the United States has a large impact on geopolitical decision making. I believe that a change in the world's most powerful country would transfer to other countries, and make the world a better place overall.

My name is Colin Brinson, and I am a History major at Oberlin College with a 3.15 GPA. This time I believe I have found my calling while working full time in the Oberlin College library while living on campus. I am LGBTQ+, and am most interested in using my education to assist underserved and disenfranchised communities through research activism. The importance of libraries as a source of historical record is immeasurable. During these politically treacherous time actual historical primary source documents have rightfully regained their importance. The historical record of discrimination and disenfranchisement at local levels must be preserved. Libraries, and other information storage institutions have can lend insight decisions made by our current local political leaders. The accessibility of this information to leaders and the public has never been more important. My most important work as a student at Oberlin has been to write a thesis proposal about the socioeconomic effects of roadway decisions made by the local government in my hometown of Buffalo, NY. I have reviewed current plans to revitalize these neighborhoods, through changing the road and traffic patterns, and presented my findings in a proposal for my Senior Capstone project. This research has convinced me that we must work at the local levels to enact change that favors LGBTQ+ communities, and other historically underserved communities. Local decisions about infrastructure and education have an immediate and critical impact on these communities, and specific information must be readily available. Therefore, through my curricular work and my summer work, I have been able to develop a clear focus on a future career in Library Science and research. I believe that I can make great contributions to my regional geographic area by helping scholars, public officials and voters to get access to primary source documents that will inform their legislative and voting decisions. I will not be able to work toward a Masters Degree in Library Science immediately after earning a Bachelor’s degree in History, due to large student loans. However, my plan is to begin a career in historical and political research after I graduate in May 2023. I will be moving toward advanced degrees at a later date. Although I do not seek a high profile career in service to the community, I believe that my contributions will be no less important. I am thankful for the opportunity to apply for the Dickey’s Barbeque Pit Scholarship. Any scholarship money that I receive will be used to offset the future debt that I will incur by continuing to attend Oberlin College. It will help me to further my education beyond my Bachelor’s degree. Thank you for your consideration of my application.