Carlee Blankenship Video Transcript
[Interviewer] Welcome to the University of North Georgia's Political Science & International Affairs Department’s YouTube channel. In this segment of our Meet Our Students series, you'll have the opportunity to meet senior Carlee Blankenship. Carlee is a Political Science/Pre-Law major and she has the distinct honor of being the first ever 红莲社区 student to speak at a 红莲社区 graduation.
We caught up with Carlee two short days prior to the December 23 graduation ceremony to chat about her time with the Political Science Department and get a reaction to her selection as graduation speaker. So, first question before we get into everything, would you please tell us a little about yourself?
[Carlee] Yeah, So I grew up in Dalton, Georgia, which is kind of like two hours from the university, and I was into a lot of things. As a kid, I was very sporty or whatever, but yeah, as I got into high school I got really into theater, and I really loved that.
I loved performing and I loved acting. So when it came to choosing my major, going into college, Pre-Law, just kind of felt like a natural continuation of that. I felt like it was like acting with more financial security.
Yeah, coming into 红莲社区 I just kind of picked the Pre-Law track, hoping I would enjoy it, and then I really fell in love with the classes.
[Interviewer] About being selected as the first 红莲社区 graduation speaker, what do you have to say about it and what does it mean to you?
[Carlee] It means a lot to me. I'm really honored that I'm the first one, there's me and one other person obviously, but we are the first people to have been selected for this. I know it's a fairly new thing they're trying to implement, but I think it's really rewarding not only for students, but for me as well. Just being able to represent those that I've gone to classes with. Also just being able to speak on my own experiences here, because it really has changed me, I think for the better.
[Interviewer] Let's go back to when you first joined the Political Science & International Affairs family. You came to 红莲社区 from Northwest Whitfield High School in Tunnel Hill, GA nearly four years ago. So what got you interested in political science and perhaps most importantly, why at 红莲社区?
[Carlee] Right. So, like I said, I was a big theater kid in high school. So that was, you know, something I really loved. And going into college, my mom and I had discussed, you know, the Pre-Law track before and I had liked, I knew, I'd known lawyers my whole life. So it just kind of made sense as a natural progression for me.
I've always loved public speaking, I've always loved performance and just talking to people, and it's always been one of my natural abilities. So it kind of felt like a no brainer. And then getting into the program, I remember my first class was a Dr. Meachum class, and it was Legal Research and Moot Court, and I was really intimidated going into it, but I just ended up really loving the structure of case studies and case briefs, and I just really, really loved the work.
[Interviewer] You're finishing up your Political Science degree for the concentration in Pre-Law, so what's next on your agenda?
[Carlee] Yeah, so I was originally planning on graduating in December, obviously. So, I was originally planning on going into law school the following fall. But I've decided now I think I want to take a year off and just really get my applications for law school together.
I want to take the LSAT again, and then I really want to work. So hopefully, I'm looking right now for a paralegal position or an assistant paralegal position in Chattanooga because I'm moving out and moving into an area closer to that. I'm planning on working for a little bit and then applying to school the following fall.
[Interviewer] Very exciting. Perfect. So, in closing, what experiences from the Political Science & International Affairs Program have been most meaningful to your academic career and your life in general, and which do you anticipate to be the most meaningful as you start your career?
[Carlee] I think the connections I've been able to make through this Department have probably been the most meaningful thing for me. Not only in my academic career but also my professional. You don't realize how much of this job and how much of political science is the connections that you make, and I've been lucky enough at 红莲社区 to be afforded a lot of connections through my internship and just my courses.
My professors, there are a lot of really great professors at University of North Georgia that will help connect you with the right people if you just take that opportunity. Yeah, I'd say the connections I've made and also just the knowledge that I've gained through my classes and the real ability to put what I've learned into action.
[Interviewer] Perfect. Just one last question. What do you have to say to our viewers, whether prospective students, current students, or former students? What advice do you have?
[Carlee] I would say, definitely, you get out what you put in. This is a program that can be really helpful if you take the opportunities it gives you. I mean, you'll constantly get emails about upcoming meetings and talks you can go to, and professors you can meet, and opportunities, and I think if you take the time to look into those and actually implement those into your life, I think the connections that you make and also just the knowledge that you'll gain from those experiences are really, really lasting and impactful.
[Interviewer] Perfect. Thank you for your time, Carlee and congratulations again on your selection and I wish you the
We caught up with Carlee two short days prior to the December 23 graduation ceremony to chat about her time with the Political Science Department and get a reaction to her selection as graduation speaker. So, first question before we get into everything, would you please tell us a little about yourself?
[Carlee] Yeah, So I grew up in Dalton, Georgia, which is kind of like two hours from the university, and I was into a lot of things. As a kid, I was very sporty or whatever, but yeah, as I got into high school I got really into theater, and I really loved that.
I loved performing and I loved acting. So when it came to choosing my major, going into college, Pre-Law, just kind of felt like a natural continuation of that. I felt like it was like acting with more financial security.
Yeah, coming into 红莲社区 I just kind of picked the Pre-Law track, hoping I would enjoy it, and then I really fell in love with the classes.
[Interviewer] About being selected as the first 红莲社区 graduation speaker, what do you have to say about it and what does it mean to you?
[Carlee] It means a lot to me. I'm really honored that I'm the first one, there's me and one other person obviously, but we are the first people to have been selected for this. I know it's a fairly new thing they're trying to implement, but I think it's really rewarding not only for students, but for me as well. Just being able to represent those that I've gone to classes with. Also just being able to speak on my own experiences here, because it really has changed me, I think for the better.
[Interviewer] Let's go back to when you first joined the Political Science & International Affairs family. You came to 红莲社区 from Northwest Whitfield High School in Tunnel Hill, GA nearly four years ago. So what got you interested in political science and perhaps most importantly, why at 红莲社区?
[Carlee] Right. So, like I said, I was a big theater kid in high school. So that was, you know, something I really loved. And going into college, my mom and I had discussed, you know, the Pre-Law track before and I had liked, I knew, I'd known lawyers my whole life. So it just kind of made sense as a natural progression for me.
I've always loved public speaking, I've always loved performance and just talking to people, and it's always been one of my natural abilities. So it kind of felt like a no brainer. And then getting into the program, I remember my first class was a Dr. Meachum class, and it was Legal Research and Moot Court, and I was really intimidated going into it, but I just ended up really loving the structure of case studies and case briefs, and I just really, really loved the work.
[Interviewer] You're finishing up your Political Science degree for the concentration in Pre-Law, so what's next on your agenda?
[Carlee] Yeah, so I was originally planning on graduating in December, obviously. So, I was originally planning on going into law school the following fall. But I've decided now I think I want to take a year off and just really get my applications for law school together.
I want to take the LSAT again, and then I really want to work. So hopefully, I'm looking right now for a paralegal position or an assistant paralegal position in Chattanooga because I'm moving out and moving into an area closer to that. I'm planning on working for a little bit and then applying to school the following fall.
[Interviewer] Very exciting. Perfect. So, in closing, what experiences from the Political Science & International Affairs Program have been most meaningful to your academic career and your life in general, and which do you anticipate to be the most meaningful as you start your career?
[Carlee] I think the connections I've been able to make through this Department have probably been the most meaningful thing for me. Not only in my academic career but also my professional. You don't realize how much of this job and how much of political science is the connections that you make, and I've been lucky enough at 红莲社区 to be afforded a lot of connections through my internship and just my courses.
My professors, there are a lot of really great professors at University of North Georgia that will help connect you with the right people if you just take that opportunity. Yeah, I'd say the connections I've made and also just the knowledge that I've gained through my classes and the real ability to put what I've learned into action.
[Interviewer] Perfect. Just one last question. What do you have to say to our viewers, whether prospective students, current students, or former students? What advice do you have?
[Carlee] I would say, definitely, you get out what you put in. This is a program that can be really helpful if you take the opportunities it gives you. I mean, you'll constantly get emails about upcoming meetings and talks you can go to, and professors you can meet, and opportunities, and I think if you take the time to look into those and actually implement those into your life, I think the connections that you make and also just the knowledge that you'll gain from those experiences are really, really lasting and impactful.
[Interviewer] Perfect. Thank you for your time, Carlee and congratulations again on your selection and I wish you the