The Paying Field: Eddie Armstong on Politics & Public Service
By Arkansas NEXT on Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Eddie Armstrong
Job: Politician and Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
Age: 37
Hometown: North Little Rock
Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Science – Political Science, University of Arkansas
What is your job like?
I wake up in the morning with a dedication to having fun in this job while maintaining my focus and finishing what I started. My daily job is ever changing and I love it! Most days are full of phone calls, studying and learning protocol. There are no two days alike when addressing the concerns of unique and different groups or individuals. It is my daily goal to ensure my constituents that my sole responsibility is to be of service to them.
Did your college degree prepare you for your current job?
Yes, my college degree prepared me to understand the fundamentals of creating effective change. Moreover, the relationship I built with my college professors, classmates, and community and business leaders have continued to impact the way I see things and how I chose to engage on a variety of levels in my profession.
What do you love about politics?
The power to impact change on such a large scale for the better. I absolutely love knowing that my efforts can truly help somebody.
What would surprise people about your field?
There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into getting things done in my field. You truly have to have self-motivation and dedication, especially to the small details to get things done and to remain effective. The field of Politics requires a deeper level of commitment and passion.
Your advice to students:
To the students about to begin college, it does not matter if you have a history in community service or not it is vitally important that you engage yourself in some form of service during your years in college. I would advise you commit a significant amount of your time to serving others. If you ever get into politics or choose a different career path, there is no measure to what serving your community and neighbor will do for your overall growth and development in life.
Jobs in Politics/Public Service
Jobs in politics involve many different workers. Legislators and their staffs work directly on bills and laws. Others, such as lobbyists, affect the lawmaking process by working to persuade legislators to support or oppose the proposed bills and laws.
The major: Political Science
The job: There are many, many jobs to choose from in the political/public service sphere. Do some research on the different jobs available to see if one fits your career goals.
The paycheck: Most people who work in politics care more about making a positive change in their community than the commas on their paycheck. Don’t expect to make much money in this field. Political Scientists made on average $99,730 in 2015, but lobbyists, for example, make significantly less.
