Introduction - Ramy Shbaita

    I am a third year student at the University of California Riverside completing a double major in History with a focus on Government, Politics, Law, and War, as well as Public Policy with a dual focus on Policy Institutions and Processes as well as Urban/Environmental Policy. I have always prided myself on my ability to problem solve and generate creative solutions to issues, this led me to pursue a career in government and/ or business. 

    One of the aspects of history I love most is the context it provides to current situations or circumstances. I am of the belief that an understanding of history is absolutely crucial if you want to be able to manage or solve larger global issues. My goal with my history major is to give myself a research background in the histories of the systems and policy issues I wanted to work on in the future. I developed an interest in environmental history begun with my interest in war history, which led me to read and learn more about the impact on the environment that war has. From fields in northern France that are too toxic to live in from the shelling of WWI, to the use of chemical agents in Vietnam decimating the jungles, to the coral reefs growing on long lost sunken ships from WWII in the South Pacific, war shapes the environment more than most people really think about.

    My love of history has led me to also collect historical firearms, and I am currently in the very early stages of opening an logistics business to import wartime surplus from Jordan for purchase by other collectors in the United States. The oldest piece in my collection was originally designed in 1891 and manufactured in 1928. My other hobbies include PC gaming and building Lego models. These are mostly just for relaxation and I do not plan to make money off of this hobby in the future. 

    Two defining work experiences that have helped me grow as an individual were being President of the College Republicans at UCR and working with the United States Census Bureau. My administrative experience as the President of the UCR College Republicans Club has given me the skills necessary to lead and organize groups of people through various types of events. My work experience completing hundreds of interviews for the United States Census Bureau has given me total confidence for conducting interpersonal interviews or other interactions with potential clients or constituents. 

Here is a link of my Lego collection, it is a few months old however: https://imgur.com/gallery/iG9BqZy

One of my favorite pictures of myself, I am currently inside a soviet-era nuclear submarine in the navel museum in San Diego

1. Here is a picture of myself on a restored frigate currently part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.  
2. One of my favorite pictures of myself, I am currently inside a soviet-era nuclear submarine also in the Maritime Museum of San Diego. 
3. One of my favorite places to go is Yosemite National Park, this picture was taken near the falls by one of the main tourist trails. 


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