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Chillicothe student gains experience
in position at the Ohio House of Representatives
Through his position as majority legislative page with the Ohio House of Representatives, Taylor Beeler is acquiring valuable on-the-job training for his ambitious career aspirations. Taylor, an Ohio University-Chillicothe student, began his current position in September after serving as an intern with Ohio Rep. Ray Pryor’s office.
It is a very competitive position, with students from colleges around the state pursuing the approximately 50 page positions in the State House. It also provides outstanding training as Beeler sets his sights on eventually becoming a Foreign Service officer with the State Department and perhaps even earning an ambassadorship.
“Both the internship and the page position require a lot of ambition and drive as well as effort,” said Beeler, a Huntington High School graduate. “These positions also require good communication skills. You need to be able to interact with individuals in a professional manner. It’s really cool to be placed in situations where you can meet important people and learn from them.”
Beeler, a sophomore, is a political science major at OU-C.
Competing against students from larger hometowns and college campuses does not faze the Ross County native.
“It’s not about where you are from but rather what you have to offer,” Beeler said. “I feel that I am as prepared as other college students in similar roles. There is no reason why I can’t reach the same career goals.”
The internship with Rep. Pryor’s office opened opportunities for Beeler, with an aide in the office recommending the OU-C student for his current position as a legislative page. “This shows the importance of networking,” Beeler pointed out.
“Internships offer a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the career field of your choosing and are a great learning experience. Having this type of experience on your resume’ can help separate you from the competition when you apply for jobs and I hope it gives me an edge. For example, when I graduate, I can apply for a position as a legislative aide, and I will be qualified because of what I have done,” Beeler said.
“Internships are increasingly necessary in today’s job market. My experience shows that OU-C students can compete with students from other and bigger campuses. It is a matter of setting your mind toward a goal and taking steps to achieve it,” Beeler added.
Among his present duties are attending committee hearings and sessions and providing necessary information on issues to representatives. Seeing how government works unfolds has been valuable for Beeler.
“I have learned that not everything goes smoothly, and I have seen how individuals can work to resolve conflict. I am also learning the traits of successful people. A trait I really respect is loyalty to constituents and to the party’s platform. I look up to people who strive for what they believe in,” he said.
While in high school, he was a Buckeye Boys State participant and was one of 36 individuals among the 1,300 participants to be elected mayor. “That gave me leadership experience and showed exactly how much of an impact even local government can have in someone’s life,” he said.
Beeler’s interest in politics was sparked by having a brother who is autistic and a humanitarian trip he took to Haiti in 2008 with some friends from high school.
“These experiences rooted in me a caring for people who need help. When I traveled to Haiti, I saw people who do not eat and can barely sleep because of fear that their children will be abducted. Also, I grew up near a lot of poverty. I see politics as a way to impact how people live,” Beeler said.
“Internships and other types of opportunities to gain practical experience in a student's area of career interest are important parts of the college experience. While they were once considered an added feature to a student's college credentials, employers are increasingly expecting students to have this type of training,” said Coordinator of Student Support Martha Tanedo, who is spearheading the campus' career-preparation efforts. “These type of experience-based opportunities offer students hands-on learning that prepares them for the job market. They also allow students to understand what career choices best fit their interests. More than a paycheck, internship-types of experiences have long-lasting benefits.”
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