I became interested in politics through my great love and adoration for history. It is incredibly fun and interesting learning about the past of humanity and the great stories of Cyrus the Great and Gaius Octavian, men who did well in many things, but excelled at politics. I would assume one must if they have to rule over some of the largest empires of their respective time. Throughout human history politics has been a staple of all civilizations, from the city states of ancient Mesopotamia, the often warring factions of feudal China, and the multitude of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican states. It was fascinating how some Kings and rulers would effectively throw away their entire nation, just in the possible hope of destroying their rival. The lack of self preservation and willingness to throw away countless lives over a petty squabble made me realize the value of a ruler willing to just take a moment to think about an action, and how it will affect everyone involved. It would be terrifying today if a nation with a nuclear arsenal had such a short sighted, self indulgent political policy. . . Anyway, with this scholarship I aim to study political science and step into the often scummy world of applied politics. Ideally I will be able to make a consorted difference, not so much a politician, but a statesman. This is ideal of course, likely I will become just another political annalist trying to remain nonpartisan in a ever evolving mess of garbage opinions and false reporting. That is not to say I am resigning myself to this fate, my end goal is to enter politics for the betterment of my state and nation, but if I become unable to pursue this goal I will pivot to analysis of politics instead. I will work tirelessly to improve the lives of my countrymen and of the wider world, if I am elected to public office. Politics should be more than just holding a vendetta and screwing over other peoples political careers, it should be a just system, a system that can not be used to serve one person or political position, it should be where the greatest citizens of our proud nation should be able to make smart, levelheaded decisions to better the lives of every person, not just a few people that sit at the top, or a constituency you need to win over to continue your career. No, politics is for the people, so I will make it for the people.

I aim to enter the ever volatile world of American politics. I aim to help my local community thrive and serve my fellow Americans in any capacity I can. In my brief time on this Earth already experienced the pain of losing a loved one, Leukemia cancer claimed the life of my mother two days before I turned nine. Depression consumed my father and for a time I lived completely with my grandparents, who had just lost there only child. From these experiences, I have come closer to my God and remaining family, including my new step family after my father remarried. Through high school I have been increasingly disturbed with the general portrayal of Christians in politics, specifically that we are all a bunch of dumb, far right, zealots who despise everyone who is not American. I hope to make it clear that this is a false portrayal, while there are certainly some on the far right who use Christ as a reason for hate, that is not what is said in the Bible, that they most likely have never read. I am also disturbed by those Christian on the far left who paint Christ as a proto communist, pro socialist, and anti imperialistic hippie. Christianity is used as a means to an end by both sides to justify their own goals, perverting the written word of God to fit there mortal political positions. I will not be them, while my faith will guide my actions, I am not going to use it as a justification, my opinions are my own, while they are certainly shaped by my faith, my faith is not something I am going to politicize for personal gain. With this scholarship I will be able to better afford my goals and college degree. Bringing a voice to those who feel trapped to vote between there religion taken to two highly different extremes, or not being considered at all. I will work tirelessly to support every member of my community through the aid of this scholarship, will be able to make those quiet voices heard through the noise of filibustering politicians and empty words. I thank you for this opportunity to express my goals and aspirations in this way, and I thank God for the generosity of Judge Long being continued after his passing by the USDF, God and His saints bless you and keep you all.