My name is Crayton Brubaker and I am currently a second-year graduate student at the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service. I am a first-generation Fighting Texas Aggie, Class of 2021 (Whoop!) In May 2021, I will graduate with two degrees as a part of a '3+2' program, which allows me to get my Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) in an accelerated time frame. Upon graduation, I will be moving to New Hampshire to work with the City of Concord as a Local Government Management Fellow. Beyond that, I am passionate about local government and intend to pursue a career path in city management. I have identified three crucial aspects to describe me in my biography, which include my love for travel, my passion for being an Aggie, and my striving to constantly grow in professional development in my career field.

One of my favorite hobbies to do in my free time is traveling. Particularly, I like to travel anywhere I am able to hike, fish, or camp and enjoy nature. I also enjoy learning about history, new cultures, and experiencing new places constantly. I was born and raised in central Texas and my family traveled quite often because of our involvement in sports. Through my family's constant travel, I had the opportunity to go to different parts of the country and gain new experiences. These experiences helped me become a more well-rounded person. I am also a visual learner, so getting to see and visit places, rather than just watching a video or reading a book is incredibly helpful to my understanding of places.

Though I like traveling, in the long-term I want to ensure my travels have a purpose. This sense of purpose came naturally to me since I grew up with Boy Scouts and was involved until I eventually reached the rank of Eagle Scout. With these experiences, I knew I wanted to pursue something where I was able to help people in a meaningful way. As I began to narrow down which career path I wanted to do something that combined the public service of Boy Scouts with the ability to move from place to place periodically. Eventually, I chose city management as my career path due to the fact that it held the potential for both of those requirements. In my career, I hope to continue to travel and make a tangible impact on many different communities by the time I am retired.

I take a lot of pride in the fact that I go to Texas A&M University and am the first one in my family to go to a public university, so I do my best to be involved in traditions and enjoy my time at TAMU. One of my favorite pastimes in the fall semesters is to go to Aggie football games. On the right is a picture from September 2019 where I went to the Texas A&M - Arkansas game in Dallas, TX. Learning about and experiencing the traditions at A&M has been an enjoyable opportunity and I hope to continue my involvement with the University well beyond graduation.

On the academic side, I chose to study Political Science in undergrad and Public Administration at the Bush School for my graduate work because of my passion for serving people. The sense of community that has been fostered in my time at the Bush School has been incredible and I enjoy working with classmates and group members who come from all different backgrounds, career paths, interests, etc. Having a tangible impact on those who I serve is one of the most important aspects I look for in a job. This became a reality as I grew in my interest in local government, as well. All of my preparation academically will prepare me to enter a career in public service at the local level, which I could not be more proud of, especially as a soon-to-be A&M alumnus.

Similarly, I am committed to being a professional in my career and beyond through developing and learning in every avenue I can. The Bush School has been a key component as to what kicked start my interest in being a professional public manager. I worked diligently my first few years at A&M to get into the '3+2' Bush School program to continue my education. So, naturally, when I was accepted, I was ecstatic! This can be seen by the picture on the left, which is from my Interview Conference Weekend. My commitment to this idea of professionalism has also been demonstrated in my work with the International and Texas City Management Associations (ICMA & TCMA). I work alongside a few of my colleagues to serve as the President of the ICMA student chapter here at the Bush School. I also personally attend conferences, events, and sit on committees to help TCMA reach out to students and young professionals. As I enter the workforce, I will continually pursue professionalism and foster a network of relationships with other like-minded professionals.