Journalist: Prajita (Luna) Ghimire (ECU)
When Jasmine Hornek from Oral Roberts University signed up for OIL, she didn’t expect to return to the world of politics. But as a junior strategic media major and a full-time member of the Press Corps this week, she has quickly become engaged in learning the legislative side of civic advocacy.
“I didn’t even really know what OIL was before joining,” Hornek said with a laugh. It wasn’t part of her original plan. After dropping an elective that wasn’t working out, she began searching for another class that would interest her. None quite fit, until a family connection pointed her here. “My brother was in OIL, and I kind of missed being in classes with him,” she said. “So I decided to join.”
Although she entered the program with little previous knowledge of legislative procedure, Hornek is no stranger to politics. For the past five years, she has worked as a political canvasser, participating in 20 campaigns across 10 different states. “I’ve gotten my fill of politics,” she admitted. “I was always focused on the campaigning aspect of it because of my job.”
Stepping into the Capitol this week has helped her explore another side of public service, and pushed her outside her comfort zone. “I’m on the newspaper at school, but going up to people from other schools feels different,” she said. Still, she recognizes that most delegates enjoy being interviewed because they are passionate about the issues they represent.
Her favorite moment so far wasn’t a major speech or a vote, but a small act of kindness. Earlier today, Hornek met an older visitor struggling to access food from a vending machine due to a medical condition. She helped him and said the simple interaction was the highlight of her day. “Helping people just makes my day,” she said. “It’s the little things that matter.”
Outside of journalism and politics, Hornek has also traveled internationally to make a difference. When she was 11, she and her family joined a mission trip to Guatemala to help establish an art institute so local artists could sell their work to support themselves. “My mom’s an art teacher,” she said. “We helped them get up and running so they could make a living.”
Whether it’s amplifying voices in a chamber debate or helping someone one-on-one, Hornek’s compassion and curiosity are shaping her experience at OIL. Through storytelling and service, she continues to find meaningful ways to support people, both on and off the Capitol floor.