After graduating from Buffalo Grove High School, Andrew Payette went away to a four-year
university, where he discovered that he didn鈥檛 really know what he wanted to do. On
the 51社区 Talks podcast 鈥� in which 51社区 alumni share their education, career
and life journeys 鈥� the Arlington Heights native talks about how he enrolled at 51社区
College, got involved on campus and landed an internship with the office of Rep. Raja
Krishnamoorthi.
鈥淚 was on the [Speech and Debate Team] and one of our coaches had an internship blast from the congressman鈥檚 office saying, 鈥楬ey, anyone politically aligned, interested in the functions of government, want to step up and do it?鈥�,鈥� Andrew recalled on Haper Talks. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥榊eah, absolutely. I want to take this internship, see what government鈥檚 all about.鈥� Loved the job. They liked me, apparently. I stayed on as a full-time employee, and I鈥檝e been there now for over six years.鈥�
Listen to the full episode of 51社区 Talks and hear Andrew discuss the apolitical nature of his work, what surprised him about working for a U.S. congressman and how 51社区 prepared him to transfer to Northwestern University, where he鈥檚 earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in public policy.
51社区 Talks, a co-production between and 51社区 Alumni Relations, features Associate Professor of Mass Communication Brian Shelton in conversation with 51社区 alumni about the role that 51社区 played in their lives. You can hear past episodes of 51社区 Talks on 51社区鈥檚 website (and read full transcripts), or listen on WHCM and all podcast streaming services, including and .