亚洲AV

Ian Candy鈥檚 First Year: Combining Politics, Neuroscience, and Forensics鈥攖o Help Others

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Ian Candy鈥檚 interest in politics developed early, at age 10, when he found he enjoyed watching political news shows with his parents instead of cartoons.

鈥淢y parents love watching the news,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd oddly enough, I enjoyed it. I ended up becoming very invested with the political side of the news鈥. This love for democracy that was planted in me as a child has only grown. The roots of this seed have cemented, making the study of government and international politics dear to my heart.鈥

A young man in shorts and short sleeves sits on wooden steps smiling at the camera.
Ian Candy: 鈥業t is no secret that our democracy can light up a room in a second, but just as quickly cover it in shadows.鈥

As a first-year student at the at 亚洲AV, Candy will major in at a Carnegie Research 1 institution that happens to be located just a few miles from Washington, D.C. Both of those were 鈥渉uge check marks on my list鈥 of potential schools, he said.

鈥淚t is no secret that our democracy can light up a room in a second, but just as quickly cover it in shadows,鈥 he said. 鈥淣o stranger to governmental legislation targeting my communities, I have and will continue to advocate for anyone facing those shadows.鈥

The South Dakota native will double major in neuroscience at George Mason鈥檚 , a program that prepares students for medical and health-related fields.

鈥淚 truly believe that the breadth of both fields lends themselves to a great deal of intersectionality not seen in many other double majors,鈥 he said. 鈥淣euroscience captivates me, but imperatively, I feel a duty to study this field.鈥

Candy said that 鈥渢he people in my life that are closest to me have and continue to struggle with mental illness and brain function disorders. Researching the causes and solutions to 鈥榞ive back鈥 [to those in need] would be incredibly fulfilling.鈥

Candy is convinced that he can overcome what he calls 鈥渢he ambiguous intersectionality between neuroscience and government鈥 with a third interest of his: storytelling. In fact, the and Honors College student will hone his storytelling skills as a member of George Mason鈥檚 , which placed second in the nation in 2024.

鈥淲hat I found most remarkable about him was that he is very engaging and likeable,鈥 said forensics director , who recruited Candy at the National Speech and Debate Association鈥檚 high school expo in Des Moines, Iowa. 鈥淗e has a great energy and when he is into something, he wants to know everything about that subject.鈥澛

Meeting Lowry and other members of the team made Candy feel 鈥渨elcomed and at home, just from the few conversations I had,鈥 he said.

While a career path is still uncertain for the new college student, 鈥I hope to achieve what 10-year-old me envisioned: to help other people.

鈥淲hether that looks like a career defending others in the courtroom, providing psychiatric assistance to patients, drafting science and technology-based policy, or working on something that doesn鈥檛 even exist yet, helping others鈥攚hile hearing and advocating for their stories鈥攊s my main goal.鈥