Rachael Grooms is a woman on the move that you need to keep your eyes on. She is a junior at Minnesota State University, Mankato majoring in Political Science. She is from Plymouth, Minnesota and has some big plans for her future. She has already made such an impact on the world and isn’t stopping there. She recently spent the summer in Ghana and received countless hours of community service. She has gone on many trips to our nation’s capital to volunteer and meet many big wigs in our government. Rachael is extremely passionate and will not let anything get in the way of her goals.
What sparked your interest in politics?
“I actually started my freshman year planning to major in Special Education, so this was a huge change for me. I have always loved leading and helping others, so the further along I got in my first semester the more I realized I wanted to have a career in public service- whether that be starting a nonprofit or leading the country. I took my first political science class that spring and it all fell into place after that.”
Why did you choose to declare political science as your major?
“One of my favorite pieces of advice I’ve ever been given was from one of my mentors who told me: ‘If you see something you are capable of changing, do it.’ I think that’s so important when it comes to running for any sort of office- if you sit around complaining about something you are capable of changing, you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. I decided I wanted to become a voice for people who don’t have one, as well as take the opportunity to make my community a better place.”
How do you feel about entering a male-dominant career field?
“To be honest, I’m really not intimidated by men in politics. One of the most repeated phrases I’ve heard from my older friends in politics is the biggest struggle they’ve found is that women have to be asked three times to run for public office, whereas it seems men only have to be asked once. While this may not be true for every situation, it definitely paints a picture of how little women see a future for themselves in politics. This country was founded to be run by people who aren’t career politicians, and I believe that there are thousands of women with the right life experience and hope for the country’s future that I hope to see running for office, and fighting for change in the future.”
What would be your dream career/career path?
“I mean, my ultimate goal would be to become the President of the United States. Honestly, whose isn’t? However, I have a lot of ideas for potential non-profits I’m interested in starting, and if those were to be successful, I would definitely take the next step into running for political office and leading others. Ideally, I’ll be the mayor of an up-and-coming Midwestern city that I can help shape and grow. Maybe a Congresswoman eventually, who knows!”
Who do you think is the most influential woman in politics?
“To me, there are many women in local government in Minnesota who I’ve gotten the chance to work with over this past year, and I would say they are the women in politics who have directly influenced me and inspired me first-hand. A woman who inspires me who is more well-known is former United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. Not only was she the first female and second African-American SoS, she passed policy expanding the number of responsible democratic governments in the world. I can only hope to have the influence and kindness that she showed to the world throughout her time in office.”
What is the biggest thing you want people to know about women in politics?
“Don’t underestimate us. It may not be common to see a woman in office, but don’t be surprised when you do.The amount of intelligence and kindness in just one woman can outperform a hundred men in office, and soon there will be evidence of that in our government. Women are amazing!”
What is one change you want to see for our country?
“Oh gosh, this is a deep question. I guess I’ll refrain from bringing up anything controversial, but I’m really looking for our country and our representatives to make strides in the fight against human trafficking. I’ve done lots of research on this topic because of the attention it’s gotten the last few years, both in the media and around my community, and I can only hope that people start realizing the impact this issue has on our families and our future.”
Its women like Rachael that give me hope for the future. She is extremely driven and always lets her voice be heard. As Condoleezza Rice says, “We need to move beyond the idea that girls can be leaders and create the expectation that they should be leaders.” Don’t be surprised if you see Rachael’s name on a ballot some day!