Cross Country Q&A: Nick Blanchard
9/12/2016 10:33:00 AM | Cross Country, Competing With Purpose Blog
Nick Blanchard is one of Pepperdine's top runners, with his most recent accomplishments including setting the school record in the 1,500 meters during track season in the spring and being the second-best Wave at the recent home cross country meet. But he isn't only a disciplined leader in the athletic arena - he also recently established himself in the political arena as well. Nick recently interned for U.S. Representative Janice Hahn, where he quickly learned how much of what he's practiced and learned through his sport could transfer over to his job and aspirations in politics as well. He describes what he learned, how it crossed over to his sport and what he aspires toward for his future in both politics and running:
Q: You have done really well in your career with running for Pepperdine so far. What motivates you, and what goals are you setting for yourself this year?
A: What motivates me is my passion for running and competition. Since I was born, I have always been a competitor just striving and working hard to be the best athlete I could be. And I am very excited for this cross country season. More than anything, I want our team to have great performances at WCCs and NCAA Regionals. That means it is my job to mix it up with the best guys in our conference and region, and that is what I am preparing to do every day in practice and in these early season meets.
Q: What advice do you give to your teammates and what advice do you have in general for success in running?
A: The most important advice I would give to my teammates or any runner is not to lose focus on recovery, stretching and mobility work. When I was younger, I figured that as long as I could run fast, that "other stuff" was nice to do, but not very important. I ended up getting a really bad knee injury after my freshman track season at Pepperdine. I missed six months of training, which forced me to red shirt the next cross country season. This injury could have been prevented had I taken the time to do the mobility work that would have improved my biomechanics. Since then, I have put more effort into my stretching and mobility work, and this has not only made me more durable, but has also improved my speed and endurance.
Q: Aside from your success with running for Pepperdine, you interned this past summer with U.S. Representative Janice Hahn. How did this come about?
A: Last fall, I was thinking about trying an internship in DC for the summer, to help me get some ideas of what I want to do with my life after college. I have always had an interest in politics -- I'm a political science major -- so my parents, friends and I thought it would be a good idea. It was actually President Benton, though, that recommended I apply for an internship with Congresswoman Hahn. He said she is a fan of Pepperdine, and that she would be a great person to work for. From there I applied, and then they offered me an internship. My only hesitation in taking the internship was the concern I had about whether the job would negatively impact my summer training. Once I figured out I would be able to train just a shard, I accepted the internship. Not only was the internship great, but I had one of my best summers of running in DC!
Q: What did you do during this internship?
A: The best part of the internship was the wide variety of tasks I had as an intern. I assisted both our office's Legislative Director (LD) and Legislative Assistants (LA)with various legislative tasks. I researched amendments to bills and deliberated with them on whether or not we should support the amendments. I also helped the LD or LAs prepare for key hearings regarding transportation, or small business. I also gave tours of the U.S. Capitol building to constituents.I especially liked giving tours because I enjoyed getting to know the people I gave the tours to. I also drafted constituent letters, drafted a press release,worked on social media and fulfilled various administrative tasks in the office. Since I started work before the rest of the other summer interns, I was responsible for training and helping the new interns as they came in. The Chief of Staff of our office called me the "senior intern." Being able to be a leader, even as an intern, was a confidence booster and extremely fulfilling.
Q: What did you learn from having this internship? Was it rewarding?
A: One major thing I learned was that working in politics means you have to go out of your comfort zone. One day I was asked by the Communication Director to call a constituent, and ask them about how their nephew was shot and killed in Los Angeles, and to ask if they would be willing to do a television interview about it with the Congresswoman. I had no idea how this phone call about something so emotional would go. I made the call, and we had a very powerful conversation,and it went really well. Talking about it made the constituent actually feel better, because it showed someone cared about them. Afterwards, the Chief of Staff, who could hear me from her desk, was impressed and congratulated me on the phone call, and said I did really well. It is rewarding to know that I have the ability to have the tough conversations. I also was honored that the staff in our office was willing to give me these kind of tasks that typically are not assigned to interns.
Q: Are you interested in having a political future? If so, what kind/what are your goals?
A: I really enjoyed working in Congress, and I am certainly interested in a career where I can serve my community and help make it a better place. I am not really sure what that looks like at this point, but I trust in God's plan, wherever that may take me.
Q: What about politics interests and motivates you?
A: Politics are motivating because at the Capitol, we were working on, discussing, and debating policies that impact Americans and people across the globe. As each bill or hearing came up, I thought of my family, friends, teammates, classmates, and neighbors, and I thought about whether or not it was in their best interest.When the safety and prosperity of your country and community is the subject matter, it is pretty easy to stay motivated.
Q: Is there anything you learned from this internship and from being interested in politics at all that overlaps with your sport or athleticism in general?
A: This summer, I learned that my athletic career at Pepperdine impacted my ability to succeed in my job. As a captain, Coach Radnoti demands that I live a highly disciplined life. So when it came to working in D.C., I was the first person to arrive at the office, and I would work until my boss would literally kick me out. Every single task I had in the office, even the menial ones, I was sure to give my best effort, and that helped me gain respect from the staff in our office. I also learned that I love both politics and athletics. At one event, I was talking with Minor League Baseball regional commissioners and owners with our office's Legislative Assistant about upcoming legislation that will have an impact on Minor League Baseball. So that showed one of the many examples of how there are career avenues that can combine my love for politics and running or sports in general, which is exciting!
Q: Do you plan on continuing to intern/work in politics this year? Or are you currently involved in any political type of clubs or work?
A: I have been fortunate to serve my cross country and track team as a Waves Leadership Council/SAAC representative for the past two years. With this position, I was able to work with my teammates and the organization to expand the men's track roster, which took effect in 2016. As far as after graduation, I would love to take a full-time job in a congressional office or another similar political job. In addition, I am looking into applying to Graduate or Law School. I am also considering making a career out of running. I would love to coach at the collegiate or high school level, or be involved in another running-related business. I am still in the process of trying to decide.
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