
4 minute read
From GWA's Literary Team to Washington D.C.
Benjamin Eady '14

While he was in college, Benjamin Eady (GWA ‘14) set his sights on the nation’s capitol and put plans in place to make it happen. “I was a Political Science and International Affairs double major at the University of Georgia, and I always knew that I wanted to live in Washington eventually. Upon graduation, I began looking for jobs, sending out my resume to any company, Linked In connection, or passing acquaintance that would hear my plea for work. A company working with the Army Partnerships Program at the time responded, offered me a job, and brought me to DC in August 2018. I have since changed jobs, but have been living and working in the district ever since.”
Benjamin is an Energy Policy Analyst which involves supporting policy development and programmatic support for the Air Force Energy Program. “The day to day varies wildly, ranging from coordinating important tasks across Department of Defense offices to responding to requests for information from Congress,” said Benjamin. “The work is fast-paced, but incredibly interesting and engaging.”
“I first moved to DC because I wanted to be near “the room where it happens,” with little specific agenda for how to accomplish such a feat. Since moving here, I have found that simply leaning into what you are doing at the moment and putting your best foot forward in all that
you do opens just as many (if not more) doors than if you meticulously plan and social climb your way to some desired goal.”
Benjamin says his crowning achievement at GWA was the Literary team’s victory at state his senior year. He was also on the cross country and soccer teams (saying “I played” may be too generous), National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish Club, and was senior class president on the student council.
When asked about what made GWA memorable to him, Benjamin replied, “The people and mentors along the way definitely shaped me into the man I am today. While friends like David Arrue, Casey Carrell, and Ben Phillips certainly made the days shorter, teachers throughout the school created spaces for us to learn and grow and evolve without fear of embarrassment or mockery.
I specifically think of teachers like Mr. Zack Farmer, who also coached me in cross country. His world history class my freshman year completely blew my mind. He forced us to reconcile with difficult topics in our collective history–something that students at a school founded the same year the Supreme Court forced integration in Walton County sorely needed. We didn’t just come to a “correct” or “wrong” or “left” or “right” answer; rather, we wrestled with complex issues to try and find some common ground amongst incredibly varied opinions.
I’d also be remiss not to mention Ms. Karen Barrett, Mr. Jeff Lalaian, and Mrs. Jo Taylor who all took the time to create personal relationships with their students and impressed upon us all how critical it is to both
meet folks where they are while still calling them to a higher standard.
I would not be where I am now without all of these people that encouraged me to question and inquire into the nature of things, bucking tradition and leaning into truth. That’s something from which we can all learn, whether in Monroe, GA or Washington, DC.”
In addition to his busy schedule in DC, Benjamin is a member of the Georgia State Society and is involved in the UGA alumni network in the area.
