Josiah knew he wanted to study politics. He also knew that the increasingly polarized political arena is a place full of opportunity but nevertheless a difficult place for a Christian to serve. He wanted to study at a school where his faith would be strengthened, not threatened. That’s why he chose to study at Cairn—his parents’ (Thomas ’81 and Lois Hasbrouck ’81) alma mater.
Cairn ended up being an even better fit for him than he initially expected. In addition to excelling in the politics program, Josiah is also the president of the Student Government Association, a role that has given him “a better perspective on the importance of being a servant of your constituents.” His perspective on public service also grew when he completed an internship with the Maine Policy Institute, a free market think tank in his home state:
“I applied for two of the three internships the institute offers every summer, and they offered me the third one. But I was ready to work, and I was grateful for the opportunity to get a better understanding of both Maine politics and the role that kind of organization plays within politics.”
While he speaks highly of the politics program and the opportunities afforded by it, if you ask Josiah about his favorite courses, he will begin to talk about philosophy and theology:
“Having sound biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations is very important: What you believe about the nature of reality affects everything else. How do we define ‘goodness’? And what does it mean to live a ‘virtuous life’? These questions are vital, because what you believe about ethics will in turn affect your understanding of law and government.”
Josiah plans to bring his interests in politics, theology, and philosophy together in his upcoming thesis for the Honors Program. More specifically, he plans to write on a Christian reformed view of natural law theory and its applicability in American law and government.
Driven, engaged, and determined, Josiah excels in his academic pursuits, but he has yet to map out his future. When he graduates next year, he isn’t sure what his “next step” will be, but he plans to take all of the lessons he’s learned with him: trust God, work hard, exemplify Christ, and be a servant of the constituents you represent.