Congratulations to Ryan Bush. The 2018 Cypress Bay High School graduate is one of four area students to receive a scholarship from the Broward League of Cities. The $1,000 Scholarship for Government Studies is awarded to Broward County high school seniors who plan to pursue a major in public administration, political science or another government-related field.
Ryan says he intends to pursue a humanities course while attending the University of Pennsylvania, where he will major in PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics). He would also like to earn a minor or dual degree with the Wharton School of Business, so that he can understand the corporate-political interactions that occur on a daily basis within our country and around the world.
“While I do not see myself running for public office in the future, I absolutely plan to pursue a career in public policy/political science,” states Ryan. “I am particularly intrigued with the interactions between the political and corporate spheres, as I feel both entities serve a vital role in appealing to the public and providing for the common welfare.”
Ryan says he is drawn to public administration and has great respect for those who serve. “No cause is too small or insignificant, as these public representatives understand that they work on behalf of real people dealing with genuine issues affecting their livelihood. There is a sense of altruism and selflessness to these jobs that deserve the highest degree of respect.”
This is something Ryan realized while interning for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, spending a summer as a Congressional Intern in Washington DC while in high school and working with her office locally as a District Intern for many years. Ryan also dedicated much time during high school to public service.
“I focused the majority of my efforts at Cypress Bay on the human component of public service, whether through my work with Best Buddies as an officer of three years, which is an organization working to facilitate one-on-one friendships with students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, through my work as Editor-In-Chief of our school’s literary magazine, Electric Ink, or through my work with the Naviance K-12 learning program as the Student Coordinator to assist students in discovering college and career readiness tools.” Ryan also served as President of the school’s Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, an organization that works to foster an appreciation for the social sciences and humanities.
He encourages his peers to get involved in government because young people are the future voice of America. “Especially today, in a political climate shrouded in uncertainty and divisiveness, young people are the medium through which a fresh and invigorating message can reach the public,” explains Ryan. “I genuinely believe that change will come from those passionate and inspired enough to see past the politics, appearances, and conveniences of an issue.”
