How to Become a Politician
Politics is one of the oldest professions, dating back to civilizations as early as 2,000 years ago. Many individuals have become important figures of history after becoming key politicians in their time including former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, former Philippine senator and hero Benigno Aquino Jr. and South African leader Nelson Mandela.
If you want to serve your countrymen through public office, here are a few steps you can take to become a politician:
Choose a college degree related to law and governance.
A law degree is good practice for those aspiring to become a politician. Although many scientists, teachers, doctors, businessmen and actors have become politicians in the past, a law degree is considered the most relevant and useful degree if you want a job in the government, especially if you want to become a legislator.
Other college courses often taken by those who dream of holding public office are political science, legal management and philosophy.
Join activities to acquire new skills.
To help develop the art of diplomacy and learn how to talk to different sets of people, you should join activities present all around you such as the student council or even disaster response groups. By getting more and bigger responsibilities, you will learn how organizations work and how to manage people.
You can also practice your public speaking skills through active involvement in these groups. Additionally, you will be able to make connections in your community. These people will be the same ones who will help you in your future career as a politician.
Join a political party.
Look for a political party that best represents your visions for the country and general political outlook. Research first before joining any of these organizations. Look up for the key candidates for the political party. Arrange to meet with people who have different roles in the party to better understand the goals pursued by the group. After which, you can then become a registered member so make sure you vote regularly.
Be hardworking and dedicated.
You need patience, dedication and a lot of confidence to become a politician. You will surely be dealing with groups or individuals that won’t agree with your decisions so learn to be firm when needed and learn when to listen to your constituents if the situations calls for it. Being involved in politics is all about what you can do for society and not what you can get out of it.