“Try to do what you’re passionate about”, said United States Senior Senator of Georgia, Jon Ossoff, in an exclusive interview with Atlanta Youth Press. 

A U.S. Senator’s job is to pass and vote on bills in the U.S. Congress. They are elected by voters of their state. Each state sends two senators to Congress, which makes for a total of 100 who serve in the upper house of the legislative branch of the federal government. The term of a senator is 6 years. 

In 2020, Ossoff won the Democratic nomination for the Georgia U.S. Senate election when he ran against the incumbent Republican, David Perdue, who was senior senator at the time. Neither candidate reached the 50% threshold during the 2020 election in November, so there was a runoff, which Ossoff won. 

“Try to do things that excite and motivate you when you get up in the morning”, Ossoff advised young people. For Ossoff, he is passionate about serving the people of his state. He is motivated to ensure justice and that every citizen gets what they need to thrive in the State of Georgia. 

“Even if it’s not what everyone thinks is the perfect career path”, he explained, what motivates you and inspires you is the better path to follow. Others may not agree with what you are passionate about, but in the end, it is about using your unique purpose to make a difference. 

Senator Ossoff concluded, “When you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’re going to do better at it.”

Following your passions is key to making a difference. It fuels your intrinsic motivation, your creativity, your will and commitment to pursue what you are dedicated to. This leads to a greater likelihood of impactful actions and positive change in areas you care about deeply. Essentially, when you love what you do, you're more likely to strive to improve it and the world around you.

As Ossoff advises kids, striving to follow your passions will help you “do better, making more of a difference.”