u/Decent_Tomorrow_1163

I’m 20 years old, a first-generation college student currently studying political science, and for most of my life I’ve felt a deep calling toward public service. I’ve always considered myself politically independent, patriotic, and someone who genuinely believes in the Constitution, the rule of law, and serving something greater than myself. My long-term goals have been to attend law school, pursue military service in some capacity, and hopefully one day work within the Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor. Public service has never been about status or money for me. It has always been about duty, purpose, and contributing to the country in a meaningful way.

Lately, however, I’ve been struggling emotionally with the current political climate and the uncertainty surrounding the future of federal institutions and public trust in government. I understand that every generation experiences political division and difficult periods, but over the past year especially, I’ve found myself feeling discouraged, anxious, and honestly heartbroken at times about the direction the country appears to be heading. I care deeply about this country, which is why watching so much anger, distrust, hostility, and institutional instability has affected me as much as it has. There have genuinely been nights where I’ve questioned whether the future I envisioned for myself in public service still exists in the way I once believed it did. I know many people in this subreddit have served through multiple administrations, national crises, political transitions, and periods of intense division.

That perspective is something I greatly respect, and honestly, something I think I need right now. How do you stay grounded and committed to public service during periods where the national climate feels overwhelming? Have any of you ever questioned your path or struggled with discouragement about the future of the country and its institutions? And more broadly, for those of you who have spent years in federal service: what direction do you honestly believe the country is heading in? Do you still feel hopeful about the future of American institutions and public service? I’m not looking to argue politics or attack anyone. I’m genuinely looking for perspective, advice, and honesty from people who have lived through difficult moments in government before.

Thank you.

I am currently writing a argumentative thesis on how the ratification of the seventeenth amendment fundamentally changed the structure of the U.S. government, and why I think a lot of modern problems trace back to it. The Founders did not design the U.S. as a pure democracy. The House represented the people, while the Senate represented the states as sovereign political entities. That’s why senators were originally appointed by state legislatures. The Senate was supposed to be a check on federal power and protect state sovereignty. Once senators became directly elected, they stopped representing state governments and started representing national parties, media narratives, donor networks, and popular opinion. The Senate became less of a “states’ chamber” and more like a second House of Representatives. As states lost direct influence in Washington, federal power rapidly expanded and politics became increasingly nationalized. The 17th Amendment made the system more democratic, but it also weakened one of the Constitution’s biggest protections against centralized power. I would like to have some opinions on this topic, because it's something I am truly a believer of.