Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Who is JackieSil?
You might follow me on Twitter, or have found my YouTube channel, seen my involvement with the Libertarian Party of Minnesota or read one of my blogs (Liberty or Bust, SCSU Libertarians). You probably know that I'm a college age girl who is advocating like crazy for the Libertarian Party, and you are probably wondering why.
After all, most college students are focused on school, student loans, partying and relationships.
You probably think I'm a Political Science major. I probably come off as nerdy, or awkward, and most likely friendless- as it seems I have nothing but time to devote to my cause. Well, heres the real story.
I used to be your typical college student. I attended Iowa State, where I was a sorority girl and confused in general about life and what I wanted to do with mine. I switched from graphic design to economics to spanish to advertising, all the while unsure of what I wanted to do with any of it. Iowa was a whole new culture to me, and on top of being unsure about my future, I was unsure about my present life.
Every summer since I was fourteen I have worked at Viper Motorcycle Company. My dad works here (he's now CEO) and so to give me a job he brought me in to do state licensing. At age 14, I had my first experience dealing with the government.
I want to clarify that I have nothing against the people who work for the state licensing offices. Seven years ago it seemed that they lacked the training and knowledge needed to efficiently do their jobs, and with the internet and technology, it has gotten a thousand times better.
But as I would call and ask for a manufacturer's license application to be mailed (back then everything was done by snail mail) I would, most of the time, receive a distributor's license or dealer license application. I was a frustrated 14-year-old who just wanted to do her job and get paid.
So while I was busy being confused about who the heck I was and what I was going to do with my life, I would have the summers to come home, sit at my desk at Viper and think about it. On lunch breaks I would surf the net and take IQ quizzes, personality tests (What color is your personality?) and eventually I stumbled across a political quiz.
I was raised to be a good little Lutheran Republican, so when my answer told me I was a Libertarian, my jaw dropped and the world went a little fuzzy. I was 18, and I had never even heard the word Libertarian before in my life.
Looking back, I guess that was kind of a big moment in my life.
I spent the next few days doing online research (wikipedia, anyone?) on Libertarianism. The more I read on it, the more I knew that this was my philosophy- I just never knew it had a name before. After I had accepted that I was, undeniably, libertarian, I just had one more thing to do. I had to tell my dad.
Of my whole family, my relationship with my father is not the closest relationship I have, but we do share a very unique bond. I didn't know what I would do if he didn't approve. Thankfully, he responded, "Yeah, in some ways I'm pretty Libertarian too."
So then there I was, in the middle of Ames, IA, flirting with a drinking problem and pretty much going no where in life, when I decided I would stop by the campus Libertarians Club. I climbed the steps of Pearson Hall (where I also took Spanish classes, so I didn't feel out of place at all) and opened the door to the room- where only one person sat.
"Is this the Libertarians group?" I asked.
"Yeah," was his reply, "But you're early."
At the end of the year, I was elected president of the club. I suddenly felt responsible and driven. I had things that needed to be done and a million things to learn about. In a span of one month I changed my whole life around.
Unfortunately, it was only two months later when I learned that it was either taking a semester off and working (and hopefully being able to afford out-of-state tuition in the spring) or transferring to an in-state school.
Since school is a priority, I transferred to St. Cloud State and founded a Libertarians Club there. I also became involved with the Young Americans for Liberty group on campus, and suddenly realized that I really am not alone in my beliefs. There are other liberty-minded groups for people my age, like Students for Liberty (the SCSU Libertarians Club is SFL affiliated).
During all of this, I finally declared a new major (Creative Writing) and my GPA went up 70%. Yes, thats right, SEVENTY PERCENT.
What it comes down to is that I am not just a girl who likes freedom, but I am a person who thrives on it. I love being busy and I love discussing economics and government policy.
I also ran for student senate on a whim and acheived a position. I will most likely be appointed Chair of the Legislative Affairs committee for SCSU. I was accepted to the Young Americans for Liberty national conference (of which only 50 students are accepted.) I'm also a blogger on the SCSU Libertarians blog and Liberty or Bust. (http://www.scsu-libertarians.blogspot.com ; http://liberty-or-bust-now.blogspot.com )
And I'm still working full time this summer at Viper, spending more time than ever with my family, have a boyfriend, and have time to do things like on vacation to Madison, WI with friends, like I did last weekend.
I don't know who you thought I was, but I hope now you have a better understanding. I know that life is short, and I'm doing my best to make the most of it.
Let freedom ring!
JackieSil
After all, most college students are focused on school, student loans, partying and relationships.
You probably think I'm a Political Science major. I probably come off as nerdy, or awkward, and most likely friendless- as it seems I have nothing but time to devote to my cause. Well, heres the real story.
I used to be your typical college student. I attended Iowa State, where I was a sorority girl and confused in general about life and what I wanted to do with mine. I switched from graphic design to economics to spanish to advertising, all the while unsure of what I wanted to do with any of it. Iowa was a whole new culture to me, and on top of being unsure about my future, I was unsure about my present life.
Every summer since I was fourteen I have worked at Viper Motorcycle Company. My dad works here (he's now CEO) and so to give me a job he brought me in to do state licensing. At age 14, I had my first experience dealing with the government.
I want to clarify that I have nothing against the people who work for the state licensing offices. Seven years ago it seemed that they lacked the training and knowledge needed to efficiently do their jobs, and with the internet and technology, it has gotten a thousand times better.
But as I would call and ask for a manufacturer's license application to be mailed (back then everything was done by snail mail) I would, most of the time, receive a distributor's license or dealer license application. I was a frustrated 14-year-old who just wanted to do her job and get paid.
So while I was busy being confused about who the heck I was and what I was going to do with my life, I would have the summers to come home, sit at my desk at Viper and think about it. On lunch breaks I would surf the net and take IQ quizzes, personality tests (What color is your personality?) and eventually I stumbled across a political quiz.
I was raised to be a good little Lutheran Republican, so when my answer told me I was a Libertarian, my jaw dropped and the world went a little fuzzy. I was 18, and I had never even heard the word Libertarian before in my life.
Looking back, I guess that was kind of a big moment in my life.
I spent the next few days doing online research (wikipedia, anyone?) on Libertarianism. The more I read on it, the more I knew that this was my philosophy- I just never knew it had a name before. After I had accepted that I was, undeniably, libertarian, I just had one more thing to do. I had to tell my dad.
Of my whole family, my relationship with my father is not the closest relationship I have, but we do share a very unique bond. I didn't know what I would do if he didn't approve. Thankfully, he responded, "Yeah, in some ways I'm pretty Libertarian too."
So then there I was, in the middle of Ames, IA, flirting with a drinking problem and pretty much going no where in life, when I decided I would stop by the campus Libertarians Club. I climbed the steps of Pearson Hall (where I also took Spanish classes, so I didn't feel out of place at all) and opened the door to the room- where only one person sat.
"Is this the Libertarians group?" I asked.
"Yeah," was his reply, "But you're early."
At the end of the year, I was elected president of the club. I suddenly felt responsible and driven. I had things that needed to be done and a million things to learn about. In a span of one month I changed my whole life around.
Unfortunately, it was only two months later when I learned that it was either taking a semester off and working (and hopefully being able to afford out-of-state tuition in the spring) or transferring to an in-state school.
Since school is a priority, I transferred to St. Cloud State and founded a Libertarians Club there. I also became involved with the Young Americans for Liberty group on campus, and suddenly realized that I really am not alone in my beliefs. There are other liberty-minded groups for people my age, like Students for Liberty (the SCSU Libertarians Club is SFL affiliated).
During all of this, I finally declared a new major (Creative Writing) and my GPA went up 70%. Yes, thats right, SEVENTY PERCENT.
What it comes down to is that I am not just a girl who likes freedom, but I am a person who thrives on it. I love being busy and I love discussing economics and government policy.
I also ran for student senate on a whim and acheived a position. I will most likely be appointed Chair of the Legislative Affairs committee for SCSU. I was accepted to the Young Americans for Liberty national conference (of which only 50 students are accepted.) I'm also a blogger on the SCSU Libertarians blog and Liberty or Bust. (http://www.scsu-libertarians.blogspot.com ; http://liberty-or-bust-now.blogspot.com )
And I'm still working full time this summer at Viper, spending more time than ever with my family, have a boyfriend, and have time to do things like on vacation to Madison, WI with friends, like I did last weekend.
I don't know who you thought I was, but I hope now you have a better understanding. I know that life is short, and I'm doing my best to make the most of it.
Let freedom ring!
JackieSil
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