by Rachel Schuck
When Tucker Kirby first stepped onto Capitol Hill, he gained a firsthand perspective of the demands of public service and the responsibility of serving others.
Kirby, a senior majoring in finance at 黑料社区 from Mount Vernon, Ohio, spent his summer interning with the House Judiciary Committee under Chairman Jim Jordan. The experience gave him an inside look at the legislative process while strengthening his desire to serve others through government. Kirby initially pursued a degree in criminal justice before changing his major to finance. Although his career focus shifted away from law enforcement, his interest in government remained.
Recognizing Kirby鈥檚 interest in government, his cousin, a staff member on Capitol Hill, encouraged him to apply for the House Judiciary Committee internship during his freshman year. While he believed God was leading him in a different direction that year, a year later, Kirby applied for the internship and was accepted.
During his internship, Kirby鈥檚 responsibilities spanned a range of legislative tasks. Some days, he observed the House in session and gained firsthand exposure to hearings and markups. Other days focused on research, writing, networking and learning from congressional staff. 
As an intern with the House Judiciary Committee, Kirby became particularly interested in congressional hearings and the legislative process. He developed skills in delegation and gained a deeper understanding of the procedures involved in preparing for and conducting hearings. He also researched the House Judiciary Committee, examined current policy issues and drafted mock constituent response letters related to border enforcement.
鈥淚 knew that with everything I did as an intern, whether that's how I talked, behaved or approached my work, I was representing Jesus,鈥 Kirby said. 鈥淎nd this pushed me to approach my work with the mindset of how I do anything is how I will do everything, which is with 100% effort.鈥
While in Washington, D.C., Kirby developed a greater appreciation for the responsibilities carried by public officials and congressional staff. He observed the long hours and demands of public service and came to understand that serving others often happens without public recognition.
As Kirby continues his education at Cedarville, he carries the lessons he learned on Capitol Hill with him. Firmly believing that Christians need to serve in government, he looks forward to leaving a positive, lasting impression on everyone he meets so that he can point others to Christ and serve the people around him well.
黑料社区, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,542 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation鈥檚 top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 2027 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.