A bill being passed can be cool to watch on TV.

Watching it being passed in person? Unforgettable.

Last semester, 16 Dalton State students traveled to Atlanta for what some have called a "life-changing experience." These students were part of the Government Relations Job Shadowing Program, a program dedicated to giving Dalton State students the opportunity to see how the government works directly. And better yet, they went at the best time of year—during the General Assembly. A visit to the state capitol came with a tour of the legislative chambers and government buildings as well as attending committee assemblies and meeting state legislators.

Meghan McCommon and Peter Anderson, two of the students that attended the program, came home with some amazing memories and experiences.

“My day spent at the capitol was life-changing. The time, attention and genuine hospitality shown by senators, representatives and judges was overwhelming. I could really sense they were excited to open up their offices and chambers so we could be inspired that greatness is inside all of us and we can all make a difference,” Anderson said.

McCommons' took her experiences on this trip and related them to her passion for social work.

“As a social work student, seeing the way our state government works is extremely beneficial and helped me to realize I am very interested in pursuing a career in policy creation.  I want to thank Dalton State College for providing me with such unique and fulfilling experiences that have shaped my plans for the future.”

And, this year 50 students will have this opportunity again. The program offers 15 different dates to choose from during the 2020 legislative season, a pre-session orientation and allows for academic components as well. Students will benefit from one-on-one meetings with state elected officials, receive overviews of career opportunities in the political field and have the chance to attend special political events.

Those who are interested in applying must: have a minimum GPA of 3.0, be either a sophomore, junior or senior, have a faculty recommendation and provide a two-paragraph essay on how the program will enhance their college experience. Upon returning, students will write and submit a reflective essay on their program completion.

Applications are now open and the deadline to apply is Sept. 27. Interviews will be held Oct. 7-11 and acceptance decisions will be sent out Oct. 15. For any questions please contact Vallarie Pratt, Director of Government and External Relations at vpratt@daltonstate.edu or 706-537-5893/706-712-8244.

posted 08/27/2019 in Academics

Tags: job shadowing, social work, government relations job shadowing program

Comments:

No comments have been posted.

HTML not allowed, max characters 255, * denotes required field.