CHRISTOPHER VAN DAM
INTEREST IN PUBLIC SERVICE
While my life has been full of hard work and leadership opportunities, I would not be where I am without service projects. In high school, I spent almost 2 weeks in Honduras working with orphans and contributing to a school building project. During college, I participated in a big brother type program with the football team and mentored young boys in the community. Finally, in 2015, I built houses in Guatemala and helped at two medical clinics.
These service projects instilled in me the desire to help people anyway that I can. Service is a rewarding experience, and one that I hope I will be able to do the rest of my life.
COLLEGE YEARS
After graduating from Unity Christian High, I received academic and football scholarships to attend Dordt College in nearby Sioux Center, Iowa. While my original intention was to go on to law school after Dordt, certain events during my undergrad changed this trajectory.
First, my adviser encouraged me to add political science to my degree plan. This new schedule included classes on government, international relations, and national security. I realized that I was more interested in government and public service than I was in law.
The next event was a study abroad trip to the Netherlands in 2010. To complete my Dutch Area Studies program, I worked on projects that brought me into contact with the Dutch Vice-Prime Minister and to the International Court of Justice. This experience allowed me to participate in multiple debates with other international students and to travel extensively around Europe.
Once I graduated from Dordt, I decided to take some time off and work with the future goal of getting a Master's degree. After 5 years doing factory work at a milk processing plant I was able to return to academia for my M.A. from 2015-2017.
UPBRINGING
The story of who I am begins with the idiosyncrasies of my family. I am part of a large family (1 of 6 kids) from a small Dutch town in Iowa called Orange City. While my family is fiercely proud of our Dutch heritage, we are Midwesterners through and through. Early on, my parents instilled in me and my siblings the importance of integrity, respect, and hard work. We were encouraged to get involved in school, church, and to find work (I can’t remember the last time I didn't have a job). For example, during my senior year of high school at Unity Christian High I would wake up at 4 a.m. to work on the family dairy until 6. I would then work out for football, go to school until 3:30, and then attend football team practice after classes. I was involved in student leadership as a Student Council Representative and football captain which both required extra time in the mornings and evenings. After practice, I would go back to work on the farm until 8 p.m., and then finish homework.
While the items in my schedule may change, the hours of activity have not. In order to succeed in all I do, I put in the time. This takes dedication, integrity, and a servant leader mindset; all traits that I will bring to any vocation.
BIOGRAPHY
This section will outline my personal history and why I chose to studying International Affairs. My upbringing, rural life in Iowa, and early interests in public service have all shaped who I am as an individual and have ultimately led me to the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.