Bio

Me. Ciao! My name is Cory Combs. I’m 22-years-old and am currently a Senior studying at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. The son of an Air Force JAG lawyer, a lot of my life has been spent moving across to different areas of the country. I was born in Turkey, but I’ve lived in northern Virginia – right outside of Washington, DC – longer than I have anywhere else. Both as a young kid growing up and returning later as a high school student, being so close to the nation’s political heartbeat has allowed my interest and fascination with government and public policy to flourish and evolve.

Academics. Today, I’m double majoring in both Communication Studies and Political Science. I’m a Student Speech Consultant at my university’s Communication Center, helping my fellow peers to reign in the power of speech and give the best presentation they can give. While I am passionate about working either within or outside of government to affect change, my region of interest lies in the Middle East. In the Spring of 2012, I will spend my final semester of college studying and living in Washington, DC where in addition to taking courses revolving around international relations, I will intern full-time at an organization to-be-determined (I am responsible for securing the internship prior to my arrival). I am looking forward to this opportunity as a means to take that first big step into the real world and gain experience that will help me as I prepare to leave the safety net of college and find a job.

Activities. Outside of my academic studies, I’m also a very active person who can typically be found at my university’s gym in between classes. I made the resolution to live a more healthy life since coming to college, and the healthy eating and exercise habits I developed during my years here have helped me lose over forty pounds to reach the best shape of my life. Running almost every day has had a relaxing effect on me, it clears the mind and keeps me sane. Going to college in such an aesthetic environment also gives me many opportunities to get outside and enjoy the wonders of nature.

Interests I love to travel and experience cultures different from my own. Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Italy and Peru. These trips have been amazing and increased my appreciation for differences in customs and traditions. I hope I have the opportunity to continue traveling in the future!

Sports. I’m an avid sports fan. More specifically, I’m a die-hard Atlanta Braves baseball fan. Every spring brings with it all the promise and potential of a new season. There are few things better than a beer and a baseball game during the dog days of summer.

Movies. I love movies. New and old. A Christmas Story is my favorite movie of all-time, and Halloween and The Shining are still the very best horror films I can think of. I’m a huge admirer of James Dean and Marlon Brando and all the great contributions they made to cinema, as well as the transformative influences of Elia Kazan and Alfred Hitchcock.

Inspirations. Martin Luther King, Jr. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Harvey Milk. John F. Kennedy. Edward R. Murrow. Jon Stewart.

Quotes. “Happiness is only real when shared.”
Christopher McCandless

“Dream as if you’ll live forever; live as if you’ll die today.”
James Dean

“Life is like the surf, so give yourself away like the sea.”
Y tu mamá también

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Dr. King

“I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart so long.”
Calvin & Hobbes

“America is raising a generation of dancers.”
Hunter S. Thompson

Chuck Palahniuk:

“We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves. And maybe it’s our job to invent something better.”

“If you can change the way people think. The way they see themselves. The way they see the world. If you do that, you can change the way people live their lives. And that’s the only lasting thing you can create.”