During this summer I spent 6 weeks working with the Stephenson Institute of Classical Liberalism. Austin Picket and I (2023) worked alongside and under Dr. Dan D’Amico and Violet Benge. This experience was unique for me because I was able to be a part of something special and new. This was the start of the Stephenson Institute’s summer seminar program, and it allowed me to see two different sides of it.
For the beginning of my internship, I was helping to organize and set up this weeklong seminar which brought highly touted doctors and lawyers who specialize in liberty and economics, as well as highly respected students from across the globe. In setting up I was able to use my wide range of Wabash work ethic accomplishing things on the computer such as calculating expenditures as well as doing minute detail work such as setting up rooms and packing folders. Once the seminar began, I was able to take a seat at the table as a student and engage in deep conversations with peers as well as the faculty on things I care much about such as economic principle, law, as well as good and poor examples of liberty in our society and others abroad. While I may not have had the same credentials on paper as the other students I still felt perfectly at home because of the critical thinking and personalibility I have gained in my previous 2 years at Wabash.
I would like to comment on working with Dr. D’Amico as well as Mrs. Benge. I truly appreciated how easy they made my environment and summer; they truly showed me some different aspects of Wabash I haven’t seen and did not make me feel uncomfortable or nervous at all. Instead of treating me as a subordinate they treated me as an equal and made the whole experience much laxer while still guiding me. I would also like to comment on working with Austin for the duration and Nick Roberson (2024), for the last few weeks. They both were students I had little to no interaction with and both I walk away considering good friends, we shared many laughs and accomplished all that we could in our me. Lastly, I would like to thank the Stephenson family, and everyone involved in making this happen and helping to create the Stephenson Institute. I believe this is something that will be great for Wabash and will provide many great experiences to students such as myself for years to come.
