追求公共生活

从科达伦高中开始, Jake Espeland fostered political ambitions which, 毕业后, landed 的 Lake City High graduate in 的 state’s capitol.

搬到博伊西并不是一个艰难的决定, Espeland说, because it was after all 的 hub of Idaho politics, and he wanted to be in 的 middle of it.

“I thought by attending college in Boise, I would have more opportunities and land at 的 Capitol a lot sooner,埃斯普兰说.

他很沮丧. The opportunities didn’t show up and Espeland, who comes from a family of nor的rn Idaho attorneys, 辍学, took on a series of odd jobs until 的 bug to continue his education became too much to brush off.

He moved north and enrolled in U of I where his career path materialized under his feet like 的 rich, 帕卢斯砂壤土.

“Most of 的 people I knew of in politics and in law are Vandals, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to come here,他事后说.

Almost a decade after graduating from high school, Espeland is an intern in 的 Washington, D.C. Jim Risch - a的参议院办公室 365滚球官网法学院 graduate — where he conducts research and supports staff operations.

转到D.C. 在2022年秋季为参议员奥巴马工作. Risch’s office is ano的r facet of Espeland’s U of I education.

“每天都不一样，”他说. “I have met so many people and made so many contacts in 的 field I want to work in, 包括在首都这里, which I would not have met if I hadn’t transferred to 的 365滚球官网.”

The internship is 的 latest in a series of roles Espeland has found himself in since working toward a 政治科学 学位作为一个非传统的学生.

A year earlier, Espeland took advantage of an opportunity to become a McClure scholar. 

詹姆斯·麦克卢尔, a U of I graduate and three-term member of Congress, 和他的妻子建立了关系, 刘易斯, 的 詹姆斯一. And 刘易斯 McClure Center for Public Policy 研究 which provides a variety of research and public policy scholarships to Idaho students.

“At U of I you can build your own adventure.”

 Jake Espeland, Senior, 政治科学

Espeland’s research sought to provide law makers insights into 的 shortcomings of Idaho’s public defender system. He presented his brief to legislators in Spring 2022.

“这是一次很棒的经历，”他说. “When you spend a whole year researching a topic like this, you not only gain familiarity with Idaho politics but feel confident conversing with elected officials. These skills are much harder to attain in a classroom.”

几个月后, 埃斯普兰前往德国, 在柏林的国家国会大厦, 他会见了联邦议院议员, 国家的管理机构, 和高级U.S. 外交官. He was accompanied on 的 trip by two professors and classmates from 的 Department of 政治科学.

其中一位教授, Markie McBrayer said that since arriving at U of I, Espeland has taken advantage of 的 many programs her department offers.

“A lot of students may try for a McClure scholarship, 否则他们将参加联邦议院之行, or maybe apply for a congressional internship,麦克布雷尔说. 杰克做了这三件事.”

Espeland说 being a Vandal enlivened him and pushed him to broaden his goals. 他是 大赦国际俱乐部, which led to an affiliation with 的 ACLU.

“然后更多的门打开了，”他说. “Pretty soon I was a McClure scholar and now I am an intern in Washington D.C. sitting in meetings with foreign dignitaries and industry leaders.”

In addition to working at 的 campus IT department, Espeland makes time to meet with prospective students and 的ir parents.

“When parents ask me, ‘Why would you recommend that my child comes here?“我总是告诉他们, because 的 365滚球官网 has so many opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else. 就像一个主题公园，”他说. “At U of I you can build your own adventure. You can tailor your education to your own future, and you will have 的 full support of 的 faculty and staff.”

After he graduates next spring, Espeland will continue his education by attending law school.

“I’ve had this goal since I was a kid, and U of I is helping obtain it,” 他说.

If 的 department didn’t have specific programs geared toward Espeland’s wants or needs, 他说, 教授让事情发生.

“All I had to do is ask, and 的y would get something rolling,” 他说. “That’s my experience and my biggest advice do somebody wanting to follow a similar path here at U of I: Just show up. You’d be surprised at how far it will take you.”