Young, Hardworking, Determined, and Service Oriented
I was born and grew up in Berwyn, IL until the age of 13 when I was taken from my family by the Department of Children and Family Services. I was placed in different group homes around the Chicago area particularly being with an agency called Maryville Academy until the age of 21 and to this day continue in school on a scholarship from this organization that will last through graduate school.
Education
I graduated from public primary and secondary schools. I am a graduate of John Hersey High School and am am a graduate of DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. I have completed a certificate in Image Manipulation and Design at the The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago in December 2007. I plan to earn a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the College of Charleston or Regent University (online) and a law degree from the Charleston School of Law or the University of South Carolina. I will also apply to Georgetown for law school because I might like a short-term change of scenery only to return to Charleston.
Military
I spent two years in the Air Force ROTC program at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The first year I was a cadet and the second I was a special student. While a cadet I held three corps positions: publications representative, military ball representative, and supply representative. The discipline and core values I learned during training have been helpful in accomplishing other goals.( I also joined the Arnold Air Society Scobee Squadron and earned the rank of C/1Lt and was elected the Public Affairs Officer. Being inducted into this organization was a life changing experience because I took the oath of office during the induction ceremony and took it to heart.
I, Judith Marie Kratochvil, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
This oath is solemn and I take it seriously in my daily life.
Faith
There was still a missing link, which was found when I committed to Jesus. I converted from Catholic to Southern Baptist in January 2007 after being baptized and joining the Immanuel Baptist Church.
I take the values I learned in ROTC, oath, and church covenant seriously in my daily life.
Political Experience
I have a wide range of political experience. I began my political odyssey began in 1998 when I interned for Senator Richard J. Durbin in his Chicago Office. Here I learned the skills of basic constituent casework. I performed reception duties, maintained the press clip file, correspondence, and helped the staff. I worked closely with the veteran’s affairs representative and the press secretary.
My first campaign was volunteering for Paul Vallas. I helped with the voter database. In 2004 I volunteered for the campaigns of John Edwards and Dan Hynes. I traveled to Iowa and Wisconsin for Edwards. I attended the 2004 College Democrat Convention in Boston and was a member of the DePaul College Democrats.I discovered that I was in the wrong party after returning from Boston. I did not believe in the Democrat Party or the candidate they selected, John Kerry. In 2008, I will work for the reelection campaign of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
I joined the College Republicans soon after returning after discovering Sen. Lindsey Graham (see Sen. Graham: A Light of Inspiration) while watching C-SPAN. He spoke ideas that I agreed with and I went a volunteered for the Cook County Republican Party and also interned for the party. I volunteered for the campaign of Dan Rutherford for Secretary of State. I currently volunteer for the Heartland Institute.
Planned Move
I will move to Charleston, South Carolina after living in Chicago all my life. Then I want to serve my new community, which I will begin doing as soon as I arrive.
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