Political junkie

"This summer, I'm going to intern in D.C. again. I'm really excited because I will be applying what I'm studying to the real world."

Josh Wilson '15, political science

"Democracy only works if people care about the issues and pay attention to what's going on. Since completing my internship with my local congressman, Andy Harris, in Washington D.C., I've been trying to use my experience and zeal that I have gained in order to eradicate the concept of being apolitical and to get people to grapple with the issues, particularly on campus.

"I enrolled undecided thinking maybe I wanted to do music, biology or history, though my passion was debate. After taking courses like American Politics and Campaigns and Elections, which focus on real-time issues and provide a space for structured debate between students and professors, I knew political science was for me. Still, I wanted to explore other interests like Italian and music. Luckily, with Bucknell's liberal arts curriculum, I wasn't restricted to my major courses.

"Having taken three semesters of Italian now, I've developed a love for the language and the culture it represents. I plan on studying abroad there where I will focus on Italian politics, art history and opera, which brings me to music. Through the accommodation of Professor Kenny, I've been able to learn a new instrument, the contra alto clarinet, and was able to showcase my talent as a bagpiper in a Symphonic Band concert last spring.

"This summer, I'm going to intern in D.C. again. I'm really excited because I will be applying what I'm studying to the real world. I plan on working in the U.S. Senate or, if the election turns out a certain way, I'd love working in the White House. My future plans are to go either to grad school or law school and eventually work in D.C. for politicians, different branches of government, consulting firms or lobbying firms."

Josh is from Cockeysville, Md.