Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Mount Pleasant,Texas, but I’m currently going to school at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL, where I study social sciences. I run cross country at school, so training for that really takes up most of my free time. I like cross country because it’s a mental game as much as it is physical, and I enjoy pushing myself to my absolute limits on both ends. I also play piano and sometimes volunteer to play at local churches.
Q: When did you first become interested in politics?
When I was a junior in high school I took a government class where I remember my teacher explaining to us how Romney was going to defeat Obama in the presidential election, (which later made me realize that many people often don’t look at the empirical data when they have their ideological glasses on). The day after the election, everyone in class was really angry except me and my group of friends who were happy that Obama had won because he was the person who best represented us. While everyone was venting their frustration in class that day, no one in my group wanted to say anything because they didn’t feel safe sharing their opinions due to the hostility in the room, so I decided to raise my hand and speak up on their behalf. That’s what ignited my interest in politics — I want to represent those people who don’t have a voice or are scared of expressing it.
Q: Why did you decide to join PTP?
I’m from a really conservative part of Texas that’s beginning to see a wave of more progressive mindsets and ideals come through our small towns, but that’s not always represented in terms of voting. So, I joined PTP because I wanted to equip myself with the skills needed to recruit, motivate and encourage those people who feel marginalized to vote so that they can be adequately represented at the local, state and federal levels. I want to use the tools I learn here to go home and to get more involved civically and help people express their voice through voting.
Q: How have your past experiences helped prepare you as a Field Rep?
I interned for a state representative who represented a fiscally conservative but socially liberal district. He truly represented all of the people within his district, which taught me to learn and understand your constituents in order to succeed. That’s something I try to translate out in the field. I ask people about the issues that are relevant to their community. Getting to know my area is critical to success.
Q: What is the best tactic that you use to get someone to commit to vote?
I try to be as genuine as I possibly can by attaching personal stories to my conversations. For example, I’m the first one in my family who is able to vote, so I like to bring that up and show people that although some view voting as a duty or a responsibility, I view it more as a privilege. Being able to engage civically is something I don’t take for granted, which is what I explain to people who I know are tired of pandering and fake conversations. Even if they feel reluctant to talk to me, I’ll try to find a reason for them to engage and have a quality conversation with me. It’s important to make them feel like their voice is important and understand their reasons for not wanting to vote.
Q: What was the most memorable encounter you’ve had with someone while working as a field rep?
I remember speaking to this woman who had just recently become a citizen. At first she seemed skeptical to talk to me because she didn’t know who I was or why I was there, and even after some explaining she remained cautious because she didn’t know much about politics and had never voted before. Upon hearing that, a smile immediately lit up on my face because she was the exact kind of person that I was meant to talk to and so I was really excited to help her. She eventually invited me into her home and was really excited to learn more; she even called her husband and eagerly shared with him everything that we were talking about. I relished that opportunity because it was a truly genuine moment, and their excitement about voting made me realize how valuable a right it is to cast a ballot. Helping her was very rewarding because I felt like I was able to give back to my community.
Q: Who is your favorite character from a book/ movie?
Anybody who knows me knows that I love everything about the 80’s, therefore Rocky Balboa would have to be my favorite character because he really represents my life. He went through a lot of struggles but always found a way to fight back. I liked his movies, not only because of his character, but also because of the music. Every time I go on runs I’ll put my headphones on and listen to Eye of the Tiger. Its really motivating.
Q: What’s your dream vacation?
I’d want to go to Iceland, it just seems majestic. Plus I saw it on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and it looked magical. Thanks, Ben Stiller.
