Connor O’Neill ’22 is a senior history major with a minor in Latin and politics from Monson, Mass. He is a member of the Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador Program and works in the NHIOP’s Political Library.
Why did you choose Saint Anselm, and what about the Kevin B. Harrington Ambassador Program made you want to apply?
Saint Anselm was the first place I came to visit. I found the atmosphere very welcoming and community-oriented. I knew I wanted to apply because Saint Anselm was the only school that had something like the ambassador program with such a variety of opportunities and events that you cannot get anywhere else, such as the debates or when Vice President Pence was here for Politics and Eggs.
Can you tell us a bit about your summer internship with the NHIOP? What did you do, and what were some key takeaways from the experience?
I archived a large amount of photos from the Institute’s photo drive and created a timeline of Institute photos and events. Additionally, working with Thomas Case ’18, program assistant for the NHIOP, I conducted a survey of former ambassadors asking them about their experience in the program for the 20th anniversary of the Institute. In general, I learned how much the Institute has contributed on a local and national level throughout its 20 years. We have had several U.S. Presidents visit, lesser-known candidates, and everyone in between.
You are also heavily involved in the Anselmian Abbey Players, the college’s student theatre group, as their costume designer. Can you tell us a bit about your job, and what about it have you enjoyed most?
With that job, I design and find costumes for all the actors of the shows we perform. I always try to find relevant materials to fit that time period. I like having the ability to design something, to emulate a certain time period, or even create something new that is different and unlike anything we have seen before.
How do you think your overall experiences at Saint Anselm with the Abbey Players and the NHIOP will shape your career path moving forward?
Both the NHIOP and the Abbey Players have given me the tools to know how to conduct research, hands-on, and behind-the-scenes work. Both organizations gave me the ability to juggle multiple projects while still being able to give my input on what is being created.
What advice do you have for those who are considering joining the ambassador program?
I would say you should join the ambassador program because it’s very helpful and unique. You get access to a variety of events you would not get anywhere else, such as assisting backstage for CNN at the Presidential Debates. The program is also very beneficial in the long run because you may get a job just by talking to someone at an event. The ambassador program helps to build you as a person and allows you to take those skills into your future career.