Henry Sowell is soaking in everything 海角论坛 and Kansas City has to offer before he graduates in May. The university’s easy access to the is making that all possible, whether he’s clocking in to his City Hall internship or grabbing a bite in the city’s historic River Market.
Why did you choose to study political science?
I kind of grew up around it. My mom also went to 海角论坛 for , and I’d tag along to events with her. One of my core memories was going with her to the 2016 election night watch party at Pizza 51. That night really sparked my interest in politics and civic engagement. Everything came full circle when I got to help host a watch party for the 2024 election night.
Have you had internships while you were a student?
Yes, my first internship was at City Hall last fall. I worked with Councilwoman Andrea Bough (J.D. ’00), who chairs the finance committee. One of the funnier moments to me was when she asked me to give transportation staff a kind of “review” of the streetcar, just based on my daily rides.
So, I’d ride up front, watch how many cars blocked the tracks, how smooth the route was and pay attention to anything transportation-related. It made my commute feel like field research, honestly.
My second internship was in Jefferson City with Missouri Senator Barbara Washington, who represents the 海角论坛 area. I loved working with her and her chief of staff, Brian Farmer. I learned a lot about communicating with constituents and figuring out how to talk to all kinds of people.
How else did KC Streetcar access factor into your student experience?
The streetcar is amazing. I’d work at Swinney in the morning, hop on the streetcar and head straight to City Hall. Even though I technically had a parking pass, I preferred not to drive downtown.
The streetcar made the city feel more accessible. Riding it every day made me more aware of how people move around KC. It also helped me see firsthand how public transit connects people, especially students who don’t have cars.
What’s the biggest benefit of going to college in an urban setting like Kansas City?
Being around people, simple as that.
There’s a lot of talk in political science about declining civic engagement in the U.S., and a big part of that is how isolated people can be when everything revolves around cars. The streetcar changes that. It makes it easier for students to explore downtown or hang out in the River Market. Anything that brings people together is good for the city.
What skills will you carry into your future career?
I want to be a chief of staff or a legislative assistant, basically the work I did during my internships.
The biggest skills I’ve developed are communication and research. In Jeff City, I talked to so many different people. I learned how to read someone quickly, adjust my language and make the conversation work for both of us.
That’s something 海角论坛 helped me refine.