Alumnus Andrew Payette shares how Harper connected him with a public policy career on Harper Talks

After graduating from Buffalo Grove High School, Andrew Payette went away to a four-year university, where he discovered that he didn’t really know what he wanted to do. On the Harper Talks podcast – in which Harper College alumni share their education, career and life journeys – the Arlington Heights native talks about how he enrolled at Harper College, got involved on campus and landed an internship with the office of Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

“I was on the [Speech and Debate Team] and one of our coaches had an internship blast from the congressman’s office saying, ‘Hey, anyone politically aligned, interested in the functions of government, want to step up and do it?’,” Andrew recalled on Haper Talks. “I was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely. I want to take this internship, see what government’s all about.’ Loved the job. They liked me, apparently. I stayed on as a full-time employee, and I’ve been there now for over six years.”

Listen to the full episode of Harper Talks and hear Andrew discuss the apolitical nature of his work, what surprised him about working for a U.S. congressman and how Harper prepared him to transfer to Northwestern University, where he’s earning his bachelor’s degree in public policy.

Harper Talks, a co-production between Harper College Radio and Harper Alumni Relations, features Associate Professor of Mass Communication Brian Shelton in conversation with Harper alumni about the role that Harper played in their lives. You can hear past episodes of Harper Talks on Harper’s website (and read full transcripts), or listen on WHCM and all podcast streaming services, including Spotify and Apple.