“The Importance of Public Service” – by Kyle Robisch

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It did not take me very long
after arriving at the University of Florida to realize that I wanted to
dedicate my career to public service. To me, public service is more than
just a resume line or something you do occasionally on a Saturday
afternoon-it is what I want to do with my life. I believe that I am the
most qualified candidate for this scholarship because I not only already
have a strong record of public service outside of the classroom, but my
dedication to serving others permeates everything I do.
My goal is to attain a law degree from Georgetown so that I can be an
attorney for the Central Intelligence Agency or the Department of
Homeland Security. To ensure that I can actually achieve this career
goal, I have already completed two federal internships. I worked for the
Region 7 Headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency, in the
Office of the Science Policy Advisor. I also interned for the Department
of Homeland Security Headquarters in Washington D.C. last summer, in
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of International Affairs.
During the school year, I work to help other students apply for federal
internships and full-time jobs, as a Federal Service Student Ambassador
with the non-profit Partnership for Public Service.
My work experience is not the only aspect of my life that I center
around public service. I am heavily involved in service activities on my
campus and in my local community. I founded and am president of a
student organization that donates extra food from campus eateries to the
largest homeless shelter/food pantry in Gainesville. It doesn’t stop
there, as I also serve as president of the UF Speech and Debate Team and
am a nationally ranked policy debater. As a Student Senator, I
represented the largest college at the University of Florida and I still
maintain a connection to my home state of Kansas as Chairman of the
Kansas Youth Advisory Council to the US Public Service Academy. In the
latter position I have had opinion-editorials published in newspapers
such as the Kansas City Star and featured on CBS National News’ website
and I also personally secured co-sponsorships of House Resolution 2102
(The US Public Service Academy Act) from two of Kansas’ US
Representatives.
Even my educational experiences and objectives revolve around public
service. I am pursuing a minor in public leadership from the Bob Graham
Center for Public Service at UF, as well as a certificate in public
affairs from the UF Department of Political Science. The Bob Graham
Center also named me one of only two Policy Scholars, whereby I received
a grant to conduct public service oriented research over the next two
years.
Although I am sure there are many qualified candidates for the
CampusGov/GovLoop Scholarship, I believe I am the most qualified because
my ethic of public service goes beyond just an internship or service
project. My educational, career and extracurricular goals and
experiences all have one common thread-a commitment to public service.