Brandon Waterman hasn't wasted a minute of his time at New Paltz in the pursuit of his goals.

The political science major with a concentration in law has spent his last semester at New Paltz interning at the Supreme Court law clerk's office in Washington, D.C. The power of this experience has left him awestruck, and he can't believe that he's witnessed things that just a semester ago he was reading in a textbook.

"I have been at the forefront of history," he said. "I have observed history in the making."

Brandon's time at the Supreme Court won't end with his internship in the law clerk's office. The Sand Lake, N.Y. native will spend the summer working in the Supreme Court Marshall's office.

Brandon has worked hard to realize his dreams, leaving himself little time to relax. While at New Paltz he held internships with such organizations as Senator Charles Schumer's office, the New York State Division of Human Rights and the Rensselaer County Courthouse. In addition to completing his schoolwork and serving as a teaching assistant for college President Steven Poskanzer's Introduction to Law class, Brandon was a resident assistant (RA) and a community development assistant (CDA) in Bevier Hall for two years. He still had time to serve as president of the Residence Hall Student Association, director for the Center for Peace and Social Justice for three years, and coordinator of the Tunnel of Oppression and 9/11 Remembrance programs.

Next on his agenda is law school, but his sights are set much further than that. He wants to return to the Supreme Court as a law clerk and eventually a justice. With all his experiences and ambition, he is fast on his way to achieving that goal.

Influence: "My advisor and chair of the political science department, as well as my professor for five classes, Nancy Kassop, was very instrumental in helping me achieve this esteemed position at the Supreme Court."

Minor: "Philosophy is a good subject that will help prepare you to dissect complicated passages and assign them a meaning."

Hobbies while in Washington, D.C.: "I like to take time out and visit the monuments on the National Mall. I have gone to the Smithsonian museums. I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival. I went to a carnival the other night … there is just so much to do down here that you can always find something."