ANTHONY GALLI

When people consider politics, they think about corrupt Washington DC. However, to me, politics resembles a beacon of hope for change. Throughout my life, political instability and polarization has grown exponentially. Just talking about politics itself can be a source of conflict between various communities. I refuse to believe this cluster of a toxic political culture. During the 2012 Presidential Debate, seeing Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have a cordial and respectful conversation about policy, vision for the country, and representing the everyday American gave me a perfect reflection about what politics should be like. At the age of 7, this was the first of many inspirational moments that cultivated my love for politics. From that moment forward, I dedicated myself to studying history, various social studies subjects, and reading about presidential history.

I loved learning about how each individual president shaped America. Even the smallest policy changes made a great difference. For example, many people do not know that the 8th President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, expanded postal routes throughout the rural United States. This expansion of mail routes gave various communities access to new medicines, news stories, connections, and so much more. The mail was a powerful tool throughout the 19th century, and President Buren was one of the first presidents to expand this into new lands and rural lands in the United States. These small facts excited me, and cultivated a love for learning within me.

Now, at UGA, I am majoring in political science and learning how politics work on the inside and out. Taking classes, reading various academic papers, and writing my own research papers has given me a unique take on political science first hand. I hope I can use my time at UGA to further my understanding in political science and everyday I believe I am one step closer to this goal. In the future, I hope I can find an internship in Washington DC, so I can see the inner workings in-person.

In the years following UGA, I want to be a beacon of change in Washington. I want to change the narrative and perspective that people have of Washington insiders. It may be wishful thinking, but every great movement starts with one person at a time.