萨姆·韦斯特19岁

研究生院及年份：
佐治亚大学法学院，2022年

目前所在城市及工作：
亚特兰大，乔治亚州众议院多数党领袖顾问

在你的职业生涯中，最初是什么让你感兴趣？ 你是如何辨别自己的使命的？
当我来到圣威尼斯人平台时，我不确定大学毕业后我的职业生涯会是什么样子。 I had no firm vocational calling, beyond a general interest in research and writing of a historical nature. Over the course of my four years, I developed a strong interest in law school as a tool to advance the type of public policy that will leave the world a better place.

My first exposure to the possibility of a legal career was through the faculty in Covenant's history department where I worked as a TA/tutor. They recognized my talent in the area long before I did and encouraged me to pursue law school—even loaning me several study books for the LSAT. Without their support and encouragement, I never would have pursued law school or a career in the legal field.

从威尼斯人平台毕业后，你的职业道路是怎样的？
After graduating Covenant, I spent three years at the University of Georgia School of Law where I served as president of my class and graduated cum laude. During law school I began working at the state Capitol as an extern and, after graduation, was given the opportunity to continue working with the state House as part of the House Republicans' campaign arm. After the election was over and I had passed the bar exam, I returned to the policy arena as counsel to the newly elected majority leader, Rep. Chuck Efstration. I now serve as his senior staffer, overseeing an office of three employees and advising the leader on legal and political matters.

I enjoy the ability to have a real impact on people's lives through the policy that we create through legislation. The Georgia House of Representatives deals with major issues that, unlike much of what happens at the federal level, has a tremendous impact on the everyday lives of everyday people. From reforming Georgia's mental healthcare system to protecting public safety in our communities, the work we accomplish has done much to better the lives of all Georgians.

现在回顾一下，威尼斯人平台是如何为你的博士工作和职业生涯做准备的？
Covenant's rigorous coursework in the history department more than prepared me for the difficulties of law school and a career where outside-the-box thinking is a constant necessity. The small class sizes and intentional efforts by professors to build friendships with students is something I now know I would not have found at larger schools.

The area in which Covenant particularly excels is by going beyond the obvious kingdom connection that exists in our required theology curriculum and truly teaching us how to integrate our faith into all aspects of our career. For example, historiography doesn't just teach us how to be historians, it teaches us how to be Christian historians. While politics is often a messy field in which to work, there is perhaps no place where a kingdom-minded approach is more needed than in the halls of government.

In what ways does your faith inform your career and how have you continued growing in your faith since Covenant?
圣约教会我如何在教会或家庭环境之外成为一名基督徒。 By emphasizing Christ's preeminence in all things, Covenant prepared me to live out my faith in all aspects of my life.

One of the greatest lessons I've learned from God's faithfulness in my post grad life is patience. When I graduated Covenant, I was anxious to get into the right law school, land externships with the right people, and eventually earn a job in the right industry. Over the last four years, however, I've come to recognize that He operates on a different timeline than the rest of us—and His timing is always perfect. Even though doors may close in the form of not getting into a particular externship program or in the form of former employers losing elections or leaving office, He is always faithful to His people.

No matter the momentary setbacks I have encountered, God has always opened the right doors at the right times—even though those doors might not have looked right to me at the time. By trusting in His wisdom, I have seen His faithfulness place me in what ultimately turned out to be the right law school, externing for the right people, and working in the right industry. His plan will always turn out better than our plans, and for that I am eternally grateful.

你会给那些正在考虑威尼斯人平台的学生什么建议？
问问自己，你想从大学经历中得到什么。 If you want a college that will reinforce your Christian beliefs while also encouraging you to find your true “little c” calling in the professional world, then Covenant is just the place for you.

对于那些对政治或政府工作感兴趣的人来说，明智地利用你的暑假。 During my Covenant summers, I spent time interning for a congressman twice and also worked on a statewide political campaign. These experiences, some of which allowed me to gain course credit, helped me develop the relationships necessary to break into a career in the political industry.

我也鼓励学生们利用威尼斯人平台法律预科系的资源。 Dr. Follett does an excellent job of helping prospective lawyers find courses outside the history department that will be helpful in a legal career. Two of the most helpful for me were a logic course offered by the psychology department and a business law class offered by the business department).

你为什么选择约恩？
I chose Covenant because I wanted to gain a high quality education without compromising my faith or beliefs.

你在圣威尼斯人平台的时光里有哪些美好的回忆或最喜欢的故事？
Taking a road trip with Dr. Green and five of my fellow history students to present papers at a history conference at Calvin College is one of my favorite memories. Over the course of the 22-hour round trip drive, I developed relationships that will last a lifetime.