Nathan Azarowicz knows that balancing multiple commitments is not an easy task, but it will make you stronger.

Azarowicz, a University of West Georgia philosophy major with a minor in political science, has obtained a full-time position with the Georgia Legislative Internship Program while enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

The Georgia Legislative Internship is an extremely competitive program that gives students the chance to work directly with elected officials at the Georgia State Capitol.

“I am truly honored to be a part of this program,” Azarowicz said. “Few people get the opportunity to participate in this program, and to be chosen for it gives me reassurance that I am on the right path.”

Acquiring this internship displays the level of dedication that Azarowicz has for academics, as well as his career pursuits. In his time as a student, Azarowicz has been enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He currently serves as a Sergeant and has been enlisted for over six years while obtaining his degree.

In 2018, Azarowicz had to put his academic career on hold while he was deployed to Japan and South Korea.

“There is always a chance that you could get activated,” Azarowicz explained. “This is a difficult thing when it happens because not only are you expected to put your life on hold, you also have to put your schooling on hold and be able to pick it right back up when you get back.”

He explained that balancing his commitments has allowed him to be resilient while handling difficult situations. 

“Maintaining the Marine Corps training and physical requirements takes time out of every day just like the demands of school,” Azarowicz explained. “It is a very tight balance of what takes priority at a given time, but it has helped me deal with stress and handle tough situations in life.”

Azarowicz, who will graduate in the fall of 2020, touched on the impact that UWG and the philosophy department have had on his personal development.

“Every class that I have taken at UWG has made me better,” he said. “My philosophy classes have inspired me to be a well-informed thinker and a person who searches for what is right.”

Dr. Rosemary Kellison, director of the philosophy program and associate professor of philosophy and religion, touched on Azarowicz’s dedication to philosophy.

“Nathan is an excellent student who always shows up to class on time and well prepared, having finished his reading and reflected critically on it, which makes him a helpful participant in class discussion,” Kellison explained. “His experiences outside of the classroom are reflected in the maturity and professionalism he shows in the classroom. He is a thoughtful philosopher.”

Azarowicz is the second philosophy major to obtain the Georgia Legislative Internship in recent years. In 2017, Amara McNeish completed the program.

“We are so proud of our students for obtaining this competitive internship,” Kellison concluded. “It says a lot about the writing and communication skills students learn in our program and use in their applications. It is indicative of the fact that employers are looking for interns and employees who possess the sophisticated critical thinking skills you learn in philosophy.”