t’s common not to know what your life and career goals are at 18 years old. Facing that uncertainty, Luke Sandlin ’20 took two gap years after high school and sold cars rather than start college without a plan.
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“It didn’t matter what kind of student you were. How old you were or how young. He always told me he would be a reference for students applying for scholarships because he wanted to help them pay for college,” Sandlin shared.
Sandlin found his age to be an easy ice breaker with customers, but after two years, he was ready to continue his education. He had always loved politics, and he set out to turn that passion into his career. The Virginia native decided to move to Florida, where he found SCF’s affordable price tag was a perfect fit for starting his pursuit of higher education.
Sandlin’s time at SCF culminated with the honor of being named Spring 2020 Outstanding Graduate. Winning the award during a semester impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique wrinkle, as Sandlin accepted the award and delivered his Outstanding Graduate speech from home as part of SCF’s virtual graduation ceremony.
The extra time to mature and identify a future career path were important to Sandlin. He was dedicated to his studies and immersed himself in student clubs and organizations, including the Student Government Association and theatre, enjoying the full college experience.
“That was funky! I love public speaking. I think you get such an energy from being in a room with people that doesn’t coalesce in the virtual environment. It was weird, but I was excited by the challenge,” Sandlin said of giving a graduation speech from his front porch.
“Every teacher I met encouraged students to get involved in clubs,” Sandlin said. “That way you met more people. That kind of involvement is super important for students.”
Sandlin is making rapid progress toward fulfilling his goals. He interned virtually with the U.S. State Department during his junior year at the University of Florida, receiving a security clearance to assist with data tracking projects and getting to contribute to the Secretary of State’s daily briefing. He is spending the Fall 2021 semester in Washington D.C. as a legislative intern in the House of Representatives. With an outgoing nature and a wealth of experience already under his belt, Sandlin is excited to see where his career will take him, whether it be to foreign embassies or working for candidates on the campaign trail in the U.S.
Sandlin credits faculty members Craig Smith and Hyun-Jong Kim for making an impact on him during his time at SCF. He frequently recalls a conversation he had about a logic class he took with Kim, a philosophy and religion professor, in the professor’s office. Kim’s words of encouragement helped Sandlin reframe how he thought of himself as a student, setting aside past struggles in subjects like math. All Sandlin really had needed was teachers that engaged him in a way that suited him. “That stuck with me. I still remember that day. He completely flipped what I had thought about myself and my whole academic career, K-12, and changed my mind in a single day.” He also admired how Smith, a theatre professor, was constantly looking for ways to help students pay for college.
“The price was right, the timing was right, SCF made perfect sense when I started college.” Luke Sandlin
ALUMNI PROFILE
Car Lot to the Capitol Building
“I want to be involved with meeting people and advancing an agenda that helps everyone in the country. I love meeting new people, finding out what we have in common, and if we have differences, how can we resolve them.”
INSPIRE 2021 23
