Nicole Wojciechowski, a student in the University of Baltimore's MPA program and chief of staff at the Maryland State Highway Administration, weighs in on the dedication of her colleagues in public service in an opinion piece written for PA Times, the newsletter of the American Society for Public Administration.
Wojciechowski, who previously worked in legislative services, says that it's easy to associate public employees with services that many claim are "inefficient and bureaucratic."
"In a time where the role of government and the integrity of public servants is questioned,
now more than ever we need to remind ourselves why government is important and why
those who work in government are more than bureaucrats," she writes.
"The hardest working and most dedicated people I know are my public service colleagues, who show up each day no matter the circumstances, eager to make a difference and improve our communities," Wojciechowski writes. "Through tight budgets, reduced staff, inclement weather, emergencies, natural disasters—you name it—they show up. Not only do they show up, but they leave their families to show up for someone else. That is the heart of a bureaucrat."
With public distrust of government running high, and expectations of good service even higher, she says, it's to be expected that those who saerve in these roles would consider giving up.
"The response is what keeps you going, because you love it. You love showing up each day knowing that you have a purpose beyond the norm, and your work makes a tangible impact on the lives of those you serve," she says.
Read Wojciechowski's opinion piece in the PA Times.
Learn more about UBalt's MPA program, part of the College of Public Affairs.