This semester, sophomore Makenna Sturgeon began working as a legislative aide for Colorado Rep. Bob Rankin (House District 57). On top of the experience she is gaining, she also gets to work on another goal: helping people. Sturgeon, who is from Rifle, Colorado, is majoring in journalism.
CU Boulder Today sat down with Sturgeon to learn more about her work as a legislative aid for the state and her experiences at CU Boulder.
State government impacts everybody, and I liked the idea of working to help people.”
How did you create the opportunity to become a legislative aide, and what will you be doing in this role?
Representative Rankin has a program called “Interns in the Field.” The program gives high school juniors in his district the opportunity to become his intern for a legislative session. I was selected to be his intern during my junior year of high school. When I committed to CU, I applied to be his aide because, during high school, I loved attending local events and reporting on them for him, and I wanted to get an even deeper understanding of state government.
As an aide, I work with the new “Intern in the Field.” She sends reports about what is happening in Rep. Rankin’s district every week, and I give feedback. I work on outreach, as well. I am also enrolled in a political science internship class, so I am doing research for the class, while working as a legislative aide.
How did you become interested in state government?
My dad has been a city manager for a long time, so I grew up around local government. That influenced my interest during my earlier school years. I enjoyed government in high school, but my participation in the “Intern in the Field” program during my junior year was the time that my interest really peaked. I visited the capitol once during the legislative session and knew that I wanted to spend more time in the environment.
What are your interests outside of school and work?
Outside of work and school I really enjoy visiting coffee shops and reading classic novels. I have designated Sundays as my “Makenna Day.” I usually spend those days exploring Boulder’s unique shops and reading. I also love making time to get to The Rec on campus or go hiking.
Have you had a favorite class at CU and, if so, what is it and why is it your favorite?
So far, I’ve really enjoyed most of my classes. I can’t really put a specific one above the rest. I enjoy learning new things, and a majority of my classes have facilitated personal growth in some way.
What is your favorite part about attending CU Boulder and why?
I really enjoy attending CU Boulder because the campus feels like a community. I have support from all of my professors and have made some really great friends here. I always feel that the people around me are trying to help me succeed, and that makes reaching for opportunities so much easier.
What is your advice for other students who have an interest but who might not know exactly how to turn that interest into an opportunity they can pursue?
Do your research! I speak to the adults around me a lot about what I plan to do or what I hope to do. The professors at CU are always ready to help and have a lot of experience with different opportunities that students might miss.
Also, don’t be afraid to apply. I used to be really afraid of applying for different opportunities due to fear of rejection. Missing opportunities is not worth giving into that fear. An application is always worth it, because an “I tried” is much better than a “what if.”
