Kush Patel

Treading a New Path: Kush Patel on his national security internship, switching majors, and listening to yourself

By Jacqueline Magno | Social Media Intern

December 23, 2021

 

When Kush Patel stepped onto The Forty Acres in 2019, he had plans to study public health and attend pharmacy school. Three years later, his academic and professional paths may have completely changed, but his passion for learning remains steadfast.

“A lot of things changed my first year of college,” Patel said, now a third-year history major and entrepreneurship minor. “One event that helped shape my decision to switch gears was an Inventors Sprint, which is an interdisciplinary event for students in engineering and Natural Sciences. I went to a simulation sponsored by the CIA, which was about international biosecurity and public health crises. It was so much fun brainstorming with a team of students about issues related to people and international government, and it really sparked my interest in a more Liberal-Arts style of thinking.”

After his experience at the Inventors Sprint, Patel continued to explore his growing passion for a Liberal Arts skillset in the classroom.

“I ended up taking a course called STEM for National Security,” he explained. “It wasn’t your traditional STEM course like biology or chemistry – we reviewed a lot of documents, case studies, and historical material. It was very much like a Liberal Arts class, in retrospect. I realized I wanted to study something more people-focused, where I could learn more about humans who lived through periods of change. So I met with an advisor in the history department and decided to switch.”

Now a third-year student in the College of Liberal Arts, Patel now interns with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), where he helps develop learning tools and research projects related to national security.

“If you look at 2016 when Russia sent technologies into Facebook and spread misinformation about our elections, that was a huge case of influence. So my first job at ODNI was to create a training tool to teach new and senior-level intelligence analysts how to think about these challenges,” Patel explained. “We ended up refining this card-based narrative game where players explore hypothetical situations about social, political, technological, and economic influence. It was a very exciting process.”

Patel was recently brought in for another project with the ODNI, where he continues to use his history coursework to think about the future of national security.

“This year, I’m a part of a research project about how the U.S. can better share information between the federal government and private sectors. Because unlike other countries, the U.S. has laws that protect private property like Google and all its related information. At the same time, how do we design better partnerships with private sectors that allow us to remain democratic and united against models of authoritarianism? That’s the question we’re trying to answer.”

Patel attributes much of his professional and academic success to his late high school debate coach, Jesse Smith.

“In high school, a few friends and I created a debate team with Mr. Smith as our coach and sponsor. He really taught us the importance of active listening – of trying to understand where someone is coming from when presenting an argument or point of view. He passed away a while back, but his way of listening to people stuck with me far beyond high school.”

When he’s not writing papers or working his internship at ODNI, Patel enjoys walking around campus to unwind.

“I never have a destination in mind,” he admitted with a laugh. “Sometimes I’ll explore West Campus, sometimes I’ll end up at the LBJ School. Going on walks just helps me think more clearly, rebalance, and reevaluate things.”

As a student who transferred into the College of Liberal Arts towards the end of his freshman year, Patel advises students who are considering changing majors to plan beforehand.

“Think about what you’re willing to risk – be it more money, time, or effort. I’m fortunate to have switched out in my first year of college, but I know people who change majors later on may have to think more carefully about tuition expenses and how long it will take them to graduate.”

Nonetheless, he encourages all Liberal Arts students to continually reflect on their interests and listen to their intuition.

“I think it’s important to reflect on what you’ve genuinely enjoyed learning about in college. A lot of times, students are on autopilot – completing assignments and taking exams and whatnot. But when you feel moments of genuine curiosity, that’s when you should be listening the most.”

To speak with a departmental advisor about your academic path within the College of Liberal Arts, you can visit the Find My Advisor page. To further explore your career interests and long-term professional goals, you can visit the Liberal Arts Career Services website.