Some students take all four years of college to discover their interests; others never have any doubts. Since she was eight, Sarah Topy has known her passion for politics.

“She would always debate, and pursued my parents for different rules,” said Rena Topy, Sarah’s younger sister.

“Even at a young age, when I would watch cartoons like ‘Care Bears,’ she would always come in the room and put on CNN,” Rena Topy said.

About 15 years later, Sarah Topy’s interest in politics is evident through her participation with the Undergraduate Student Government. Topy is the undergraduate chief of staff for USG President Eddie Pauline and Vice President Mike Goodman.

The best part about working with Topy is her inquisitive attitude towards everything, Pauline said.

“Sarah needs to know about everything, and then has to know why everything is that way — then she usually wants to change it,” Pauline said.

Pauline also said Topy’s curiosity is a benefit to his team.

“She is constantly talking about USG and campus ideas to everyone she comes across. Even if they don’t know her, she will have tons of questions for them,” he said.

Topy has had a major impact on how the USG Cabinet is run and how successful it is, Pauline said.

“She has helped people become better leaders in general. We have so many things going on at any specific time, and she is able to manage all of them and loving every minute of it,” he said.

Goodman said Topy is a great person to work with.

“It’s great the way she relates with people and listens. She works with people every day and really finds a way to connect with all of them,” Goodman said. “She cares about people. She’s not one of those people who goes home at the end of the day and forgets the people she talked to that day.”

Goodman also said she has kept communication flowing, which has created a very successful Cabinet.

“She knows over 200 people that are members of USG, and she works with them all,” Goodman said.

Topy said she loves being a part of USG because she has the chance to work with university politics and influential people.

“Because USG is involved with students, faculty, staff and the administration, I have immensely enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from every area of the university community who offer such unique and diverse perspectives,” Topy said.

“I cannot imagine when I will ever be surrounded by such a unique, eclectic, intelligent, committed and talented group of people, and I have learned so much by merely observing the exceptional people who are associated with Ohio State,” she said.

Topy already has a full plate in front of her. There are a number of issues she wants to work on.

“To name a few, USG is focusing on the role of resident advisors in the residence halls, attempting to improve the safety and physical appearance of the University District, advocating downtown for more state assistance so OSU does not need to keep raising tuition,” she said.

Other topics included “looking at the issues of a student activity fee, building coalitions with other groups around campus to address the impending affirmative action decision before the Supreme Court and improving the USG as an organization internally, by restructuring the USG Senate and reforming campaign laws,” Topy said.

Along with the issues — such as affirmative action, which she wants to focus upon — Topy said she realizes OSU needs to change some of its operational ways with the students.

Students feel like they are detached from the university, she said.

“OSU needs to realize this and make a concerted effort to change it,” Topy said. “We cannot expect students to invest in OSU if the university does not invest in them, and if we do not strive to ensure that every single student is afforded an exceptional experience, I think we are failing to achieve real success.”

Topy said working with the USG staff has been an incredible experience.

Although working with the USG takes a lot of time, Topy is still an honors student in political science and English.

Shira Handler, a sophomore in English and Topy’s best friend, admires Topy for all her accomplishments.

“Not only does Sarah have the natural ability and talent to take over the world someday, but she actually puts them to use and she’s started to do it. That’s incredibly rare,” Handler said.

Rena Topy said Topy was almost annoying to grow up with because she was successful even then.

“She always had perfect grades and the teachers always loved her, and since we had so many of the same teachers, I would have the ones she had the year before, and it was hard to measure up to her,” Rena Topy said.

Friends and family all see Topy as being nothing but successful.

“In a few years, I imagine that Sarah will have just graduated from a top law school and will be facing the difficult decision of deciding whether to accept a ridiculously prestigious and well-paid offer from a law firm, or to accept a position basically running the Democratic party,” Handler said.

“She’s a brilliant campaigner. Eventually, I think she’ll be White House chief of staff,” Handler said.