As a Portman Fellow, I have had countless opportunities to experience the government and legal fields firsthand by speaking with professionals about their work, responsibilities, and goals. There are a variety of ways that the Center allows us to engage with these people. First, we host and attend workshops here at UC on civility and democracy, such as a gambling debate with the Greater Cincinnati Braver Angels, where I served as a key speaker. Beyond workshops, we have the opportunity to attend events at the local, state, and federal levels, such as a Chamber Advocacy Conversation with Cincinnati Councilmembers Ryan James and Evan Nolan. My favorite opportunity of the year, however, was our annual trip to Washington D.C., where I was able to speak with immensely influential individuals such as Senator Susan Collins, Senator Bernie Moreno, Representative Greg Landsman, and many more. I have also had many opportunities to speak with Senator Rob Portman himself, who is always willing to offer advice and congratulate us on our accomplishments.

       My first year as a Portman Fellow was nothing short of rewarding and truly the best program I have had the privilege to be part of. I have learned so much about what it means to be a citizen, and what active engagement with democracy can and should look like. In a time when civility seems to be becoming rarer, being a Fellow with the Portman Center has taught me how to work each day to create greater opportunities for civility and bipartisan conversation. Part of being a Global Citizen Scholar is being a citizen, a less concrete concept than many people think. Citizenship is engagement, belief in our law and our system, and the desire to uphold the foundations of our democracy. Therefore, to be a Global Citizen Scholar, you must first understand the requirements of being an active citizen, which I have learned through the Portman Fellowship.