History always has been the favorite subject of Carson Drake ’21. She also enjoys politics, which she calls “future history unfolding.”
Carson Drake ’21
Drake took to these subjects while growing up in Lawrence, Kansas. “My interest in history and politics came from my dad,” she says. “He always watched the news or the History Channel, and I would watch with him. That led to my involvement in student government in middle school and high school.”
This past summer, Drake’s interests took her all the way to Washington, D.C. After completing her first year at Babson, the student-athlete, who plays midfielder on the women’s soccer team, served as an intern for Rep. Lynn Jenkins, the congresswoman for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
Drake found the internship through a post on Facebook. “I applied on a whim, not expecting to be offered the position,” she says. “But when they extended the offer, I gladly accepted.” Drake’s many duties included researching and recommending legislation for Jenkins to co-sponsor, answering questions from constituents about the congresswoman’s policies, and giving tours of the U.S. Capitol. “It was a good way to get a feel for the day-to-day operations of the U.S. legislative system,” Drake says.
One of Drake’s favorite experiences during the internship was attending a lecture series featuring three prominent government leaders: Linda McMahon, administrator of the Small Business Administration; Alexander Acosta, secretary of labor; and Rep. Steve Scalise, House majority whip. Before coming to Washington, Drake didn’t realize how much her business education would help her during the internship. “Having a background in business, I was able to understand business legislation and tax policy, as well as the implications on both small businesses and large corporations,” she says.
Drake is just finishing her second season on the women’s soccer team, and she’s a Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholar and a member of Chi Omega as well. She first heard about Babson through a family friend’s son, Tanner Click ’16, who was a goalie on the men’s soccer team. She did her research and decided Babson was a fit. Drake appreciates the College’s emphasis on liberal arts. “I’ve taken business law, rhetoric, and astronomy,” she says. “These courses forced me to think outside the box. When I took business law, I determined I had a knack for law, but if I had only taken accounting and finance, I would have never realized that.”
Drake is leaning toward a concentration in legal studies or historical and political studies. Post graduation, she envisions running for office at the local or federal level. “I believe that through politics I can make a positive impact on many people’s lives,” she says, “while doing something I love.” —Scott Dietz, associate athletics director