Monday, December 15, 2008

Intro

Hi, my name is Brad Burnett. This is where I will be sharing my experiences at the ‘Presidential Inauguration Seminar,’ a conference held from January 10-20 in Washington, DC. ACC has been extremely generous in supporting me in my dream of working in politics.

My route to ACC and politics has been a circuitous one. My high school career was not the most successful one; I ended up dropping out of high school in my junior year and, after going back, graduated with a sub-2.0 GPA. After high school, I wound up working at first a grocery store and then a gas station. Honorable jobs to be sure, but they did not give me the fulfillment I wanted from life. Somewhere down the line, however, I caught the politics bug. I have always liked to help people and I feel politics is one of the best ways to do that.

Once I found my passion in life, ACC showed me how to get there. I started early, getting involved in Student Government and Phi Theta Kappa. I am now the President of Student Government and have been a Gold Member of Phi Theta Kappa for three straight semesters.

ACC has been remarkable in their generosity in helping me with the conference. Not only did ACC pay for my conference, housing, and travel fees, but the Center of Public Policy and Political Studies is also securing a clothing allowance to help me with the business wear I have to wear during the 10 day conference and a stipend to help with food costs. The Center is also actively pursuing every avenue to secure me a ticket to the Presidential Inauguration itself. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to a ticket so that I can watch one of the biggest moments in American history in person.