When I was in 8th Grade, my father decided to run for office. A small, unpaid, volunteer local office, but still a political office nonetheless. This was my first introduction into the world of politics. However, at the time, being a 14-year-old, I didn’t really understand all the complexities of everything going on, nor why my dad was even running for election in the first place. However, I knew that I fully supported him.

I helped out my Dad’s campaign in the small ways, helping design things, helping create images or posters to put up. I also got some of my friends’ and their families involved as well. It was definitely a fun experience and probably where I started to become really enamored with politics, and I knew that after that campaign was over, I wanted to work in politics when I grew up.

Eventually, when election day came, we waited to see who would win. This was a 5 person race for 4 open seats, so one person would be going home. The next morning when I woke up for school, I remember asking my Dad if he won… and Won he did. He had the 3rd highest vote count of the candidates, beating an incumbent who was running for re-election.

When I went to school that day, I was so proud to tell my friends that he won, and they were happy as well.

Without my Dad running for election that year, I don’t think I would have been as invested as I am today in politics, and I definitely would never have thought about making that my career.