The "I'd Vote For Him!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting next to a young man by the name of Giovanni Corrado, drinking Maui Smoothies.  This story began about a month earlier when I read an account of Giovanni's life either on LancasterOnline or in the printed Lancaster Newspaper.  For some reason I noticed his photograph and began reading his story that was published that day.  Started with: "I was 16, I would wake up when the sun was still asleep.  Get dressed, eat breakfast and walk to the nearest bus stop." Wow, when I finally reached the end of his story and saw his email address published, I knew I just had to meet this young man.  Shortly, we had made a time to meet at Blue Line, a small cafe on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Giovanni was sitting at a metal table in front of the Blue Line when I arrived.  Recognized him immediately from his photograph in his published story.  After a friendly handshake and a trip inside the cafe for a Maui Smoothie, we settled around the outdoor table for the next hour during which I learned about one of the most industrious and brilliant young men I had ever met.  

Giovanni Corrado in front of the White House.

I wasn't sure what to ask him for fear I wouldn't understand a single word he was telling me.  Where do I begin, I thought to myself.  Well, Giovanni made it easy for me when he began with his early education in a small town by the name of Leivi which is a farming hill in Italy.  His first four years of education were spent in a Catholic school in his home town.  Then a medical emergency forced him to spend a year in a hospital in Genoa, Italy recuperating while having private teachers, courtesy of the Universal Health Care System in Italy.  His next few years of education were spent in a variety of locations, including a year living with his Grandmother in Miami, Florida.  High school saw him choose the Classical School curriculum in Italy with a trip back to Miami once again for his final year where he received a scholarship to Gulliver Prep.  Giovanni was an accomplished tennis player throughout his schooling and was recruited by the tennis coach at Franklin & Marshall.  Being the school wasn't allowed to offer athletic scholarships, he was offered academic scholarships to attend one of the best Liberal Arts colleges in the nation.  In the online story about Giovanni he tells that he believed in his dreams and never let his physical location define what he could and couldn't do.  

The farming hill in Italy known as Leivi.

He fell in love with the U.S.A., the country that gifted him the tools to unleash his potential and creativity.  He has nothing but praise for his choice of college, Franklin & Marshall.  He says that F&M allowed him to discover himself, his passions and his self-worth.  Last year he founded "New Politics Now", an online organization driven by a desire to empower other students and give them a voice.  His passion for his new business can be seen in his eyes as he tell me about how he is giving his generation a chance to self-publish their opinions on national topics of concern.   The website will allow discussions and thinking on world news and current events. You can access the site at http://newpolnow.com/.  This past summer Giovanni had the opportunity to be part of the press corps in the West Wing of the White House.  Security checks on his background were extensive, but he qualified to me one of the interns.  Meeting the president as well as other top officials was part of his daily schedule. He had the chance to collaborate with outstanding officials and staffers on a daily basis.  He attended White House press briefings and Rose Garden ceremonies.  

Giovanni on the campus of F&M.

He lived in Washington, D.C. during the summer where he would start his day analyzing daily news publications from the north-east of the country and then report his findings to the press office.  It was at this point that he told me that Lancaster's daily newspaper, LNP, has the third largest circulation in the state of Pennsylvania behind two Philadelphia newspapers.   At present he is working toward his degree at F&M as well as being a Fellow for the United Nations Global Health Initiative with hopes of helping to solve global health problems.  As far as his dreams for the future, he has high hopes for his new business he founded and hopes of returning to Florida to run for a political office, much like his mentor Marco Rubio.  This young man has accomplished more in his life than most have done in their lifetime.  His ambitions are monumental, but I hope I get the chance to vote for him someday.  No question in my mine he will be successful no matter what he does with his live.  A life in public service is within his reach.  My wish for his success will happen sooner than later.  Just wait!  How about President Corrado.  You heard it here first!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.