Hometown: Stafford Springs, CT

Year: Junior

College: Ezra Stiles

Major: Political Science

Extracurriculars: Yale College Council, vice president; College Democrats of Connecticut, president

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Profile

Politics has been a passion since high school for Nick Girard, who views public service as an effective means of becoming truly engaged with his community. Politics has shaped Nick’s trajectory at Yale—he served as vice president of the Yale College Council and president of the College Democrats of Connecticut—and still informs his career choices as he completes his senior year.

As a first-generation college student from a small town in northern Connecticut, Nick initially felt overwhelmed with the different opportunities presented to him at Yale. He didn’t know how to access most of the resources offered on campus. “Coming to Yale the first few weeks, I had a lot  of doubts and concerns about whether I would be able to   fit in at this school that attracts the best and the brightest from around the world,” Nick recalls. That kind of experience transformed the rest of his career at Yale: from that point on, he said, he resolved to make Yale a more accessible and welcoming environment for everyone.

Nick’s efforts to make Yale more accessible culminated last school year with his election as vice president of the Yale College Council. His proudest accomplishment, the launch of the Domestic Summer Award, has also been a personal one, Nick said. The new fellowship, which provides students with funding for summer opportunities at nonprofits and government organizations, opens doors for students who would not otherwise be able to afford to take unpaid summer jobs like internships at the Senate or art apprenticeships, he explains. “The award will make a lasting change on what people will be able to do at Yale—and based on that, what they will be able to do far beyond Yale.”

Nick’s experiences at Yale with politics also extend to the Yale College Democrats, an organization that has not only become a tight-knit community for him, but has also expanded his horizons. Nick explained that he never would have believed, prior to Yale, that he would be able to meet with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or former Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut as a college student, but his involvement in the Yale College Democrats made those meetings possible. These experiences exemplify his belief that Yale is a place where people can surprise themselves by unlocking newfound potential, as long as they have the right support system and a welcoming environment around them.

Nick is a first-year counselor during his senior year, helping fresh faces in Ezra Stiles College get acclimated to Yale. He hopes to draw upon his own experiences as a first-year, when he first felt out of place at Yale. Ultimately, Nick wants to make an impact by helping others find their own communities, as he did with the Yale College Council and the Yale College Democrats. “The beauty of Yale is that there are just so many ways in which you can leave your mark,” he reflects.

Nick’s essays include his Common App personal statement and one of his Yale supplemental essays.

ESSAY 1 (COMMON APP):

Personal Statement

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The temperature reaches the single digits, but my heart is on fire because it is Election Day 2013 and I am ready for action. I grab my campaign signs, my mittens, and my homemade campaign buttons and head out. It is 5 a.m. and there is no one out except for the small group at headquarters. As the sun starts to rise and the cars start to roll by, more volunteers show up.  I begrudgingly agree that I have to go to school, but my mind begs: “Ten more minutes?” At school, it seems I am the only one excited. It puzzles me because these elections are, for most of us, one of the few opportunities to influence the decisions that govern our community. Soon, I find myself back at headquarters, which is now abuzz as “election day fever” sets in. I make calls throughout the afternoon as we see more signs of a low voter turnout. Politics has taught me persistence and the value of never giving up on something. On a campaign, don’t just accept that voters are not turning up; call them, remind them that their vote counts, listen to them when they say why they aren’t voting, and offer a solution. The sun sets and the numbers start to roll in. We make a crowd now. Our candidates are here, signs are everywhere, and voter call sheets are strewn about the room. In the end, our candidate lost the First Selectman race, but we managed to fill most other positions.

It was an unmatchable experience to help the Stafford Democratic Town Committee in our 2013 municipal campaign, and Election Day was my favorite. The excitement was real and so was the disappointment. I feel at home at headquarters and each visit reinforces that this is where I am meant to be. In the anticipation waiting for the results to come in, the feeling of perfect content, like a puzzle piece finally fitting in, occurred. I at once felt an incredible sense of pride, but also a great weight of responsibility. Politics and government have become the air I breathe and my lifelong passion. Every day is another chance to reach more people, to do more good, and, little by little, to change the world. I always knew I enjoyed politics, and fondly remember saving up as a six-year-old to buy a poster of presidents that still hangs on my wall. Until last year, I never thought I could be where I am today and didn’t dream as big and strategize so seriously about what I can be in the future. In a world full of change, that presidents poster, and my commitment to politics, remain a sturdy foundation for the future. From the High School Democrats of America to the Connecticut Democratic Party, that one short election in 2013 marked a great impetus for my future in public service and politics. I felt content, rewarded, and passionate working side-by-side with our candidates.

Political work is tremendously difficult, but it is rewarding and pays in the knowledge of the skills needed to be a successful public leader: a clear vision, commitment to community, tenacity, and passion. Each day on the campaign trail, incredible stories of determination, compassion, and concern are shared. Politics to me is more than the negative ads and mudslinging; it is the opportunity to gain a better understanding and recognition of the incredible diversity of experiences and opinions in this world. The world needs devoted, dedicated, and compassionate individuals who can be the agents of change and progress for the future. I know I can be one.

ESSAY 2 (YALE SUPPLEMENT):
Please reflect on something you would like us to know about you that we might not learn from the rest of your application, or on something about which you would like to say more.

My journey to become the kind of leader I strive to be started with a regret and resulted in me learning to value every opportunity I am given. In 2011, I attended a leadership seminar through the Student Leadership Training Program. Despite the eye-opening experience, I was not ready to apply new leadership skills and stay involved. I was handed a tremendous experience, and in the naivety of my caged mind, I neglected to take advantage of it like a bird fearing to take flight for the risk of falling.

With sophomore year came a new opportunity—I received the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award and was asked to attend the Connecticut Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. This would be my second chance to learn from a leadership conference. I promised to not let this experience fall through my fingers. Initially, I was intimidated, with strange “Outstanding” cheers and experiences that were miles out of my comfort zone. I felt out of place. Why did I deserve to be here? I had given up on my previous commitments, while other ambassadors were devoted, accomplished leaders.

Over the weekend though, something in me clicked, and my apprehension disappeared. I realized who I am and how I can contribute to the world. When pushed beyond my limits socially, intellectually, and mentally, I found a learning experience unrivaled by anything thus far in my life.

A leader is not just the person in front of the line, the person who is the loudest, or the one who has the most to say. Leadership to me is the power to thrive in any circumstance, to lead through service, and to empower others. A true commitment to something greater than oneself takes great devotion.  A leader listens to the concerns, hopes, and dreams of everyone and uses words and actions to encourage others. During seminar this year, we visited with senior residents, and I met a man who was a judge and leader in his community many years ago but could now barely speak. I told him about HOBY’s impact on me and he listened contently. I apologized at the end because I thought I bored him, but he smiled. “Be exactly who you are, do not change,” he told me. That moment reassured me of everything HOBY has awoken in me. New experiences, disappointments, triumphs, and everyday life experiences help to mold a leader. Each day we have choices to make. Each choice is an opportunity to build character and create positive change. A leader strives to makes the right choices, recognizes and addresses mistakes, and motivates others. When I think about what is important to me, I think about my experiences that have taught me to push the boundaries of my capabilities, embrace new experiences, and do the right thing instead of the easy thing. I don’t have all of the answers, but these skills will help me become the person and leader I want to be.

From 50 Yale Admission Success Stories: And the Essay That Made Them Happen, edited by the Yale Daily News Staff. Copyright © 2020 by the authors
and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group.