Patrick Sicula is majoring in Political Science and Democracy and Justice Studies with an emphasis in U.S. and the World. He is also minoring in Business Administration. Patrick will be graduating in May 2020 and attending the University of Wisconsin Law School in the fall.
Why did you major in Political Science and DJS? I was a Business Administration major without a minor when I first started at UWGB, and I did not really know what I wanted to do after school; a business major, to me, seemed like the most practical and versatile degree. However, I always had an interest in politics and history, so I changed my major to Political Science sophomore year and moved Business Administration to a minor. It was at this time that I also decided my goal was to attend law school. During my junior year, I looked to add another minor that would help me in preparation for law school. I looked at minors such as Philosophy, English, and DJS. In the course of the search for another minor, I gravitated toward DJS, and I found that, because many DJS and Political Science courses overlapped, I would be able to finish a DJS major within the standard four years in addition to my Political Science major and Business Administration minor. Furthermore, I changed my major to Political Science and added DJS because I felt, and still feel, that in order for our republic to function, citizens need to be informed. Both the Political Science and DJS majors not only educate students to be informed citizens, but they also help students gain the knowledge necessary to empower others to be civically-minded too.
What are your plans after graduation? I will be attending the University of Wisconsin Law School in the fall.
What academic experience or accomplishment are you most proud of? The academic experience that I am most proud of is my internship as an Editorial Assistant with Syllabus. Syllabus is a peer-reviewed journal of course syllabai and other teaching materials, and it is run by Professor Katia Levintova and Professor Caroline Boswell. I have had the opportunity to work with Professor Levintova and Professor Boswell for three semesters now. Both of them have been incredible mentors, and I could not be more thankful. Working in an editorial capacity has allowed me to improve my writing — a vital skill for law school. In a Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) preparation book I read, the author, Nathan Fox, wrote: “Lawyers in the United States are gladiators who do battle using the English language.” Thus, the internship with Syllabus has definitely prepared me for many “battles” in my future. Finally, the internship has allowed me to appreciate my other courses and professors more too. Often times students receive their course syllabai and, after the first week, never look at them again. However, they most definitely should. There is a lot of work, thought, and theory that goes in to constructing a course. I would never had known this without reading and working on the pieces in Syllabus.
What single thing do you hope to accomplish at UWGB before graduating? I am almost at the end of my UWGB career, but I am currently working on a Political Science honors project about civics education. I would like to finish strong and put forth the best project I possibly can.
What do you do for fun? The number one thing I do for fun is play golf. I have had the honor to play for the Men’s Golf Team for the past four years under Coach Lee Reinke. Coach Reinke has moved the program to new heights. Besides golf, I like to read, watch Wisconsin sports (especially the Packers and Brewers) and watch movies. I used to see more movies than I do now, but I usually watch all the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Picture every year.
What else do you want people to know about you? I would like people to know that I am genuinely grateful for the diverse and thoughtful discourse that the academic environment at UWGB has provided. Additionally, I am thankful for the professors that have helped me grow as a student. Looking back at myself as an incoming freshman, and an underclassman, much to my dismay, I definitely thought I knew more than I did. However, my professors, through their example, have helped me learn to keep an open mind, listen, and engage with different ideas. I am truly humbled by their knowledge, and I will always be grateful for them and what they have taught me.
