Sarah Blugis, a senior majoring in political communication, is The Hatchet’s opinions editor.

I’ve just started watching The West Wing for the first time – and I’m a senior in the School of Media and Public Affairs. I know what you may be thinking: How could I have waited this long? Haven’t I missed a ton of references over the years? Most importantly: What season am I on?

Well, somehow I’ve managed to fly through the entire first season in a little over a week, though I’m not sure where I found the time. For a while, I avoided starting the show, largely because 154 episodes is a daunting commitment. But I’ve also become more and more pessimistic about the political process over the last three years, so I wasn’t sure The West Wing was the show for me.

A couple weeks ago, though, one of my SMPA professors referenced a very specific episode as an example during class, and I decided it was time to catch up with everyone else. I was tired of not knowing who C.J. Cregg is, why Charlie Young is so great or what happens after the season one cliffhanger finale. So I started, unwisely, while taking a break from writing a paper. Needless to say, I didn’t get much done after that.

Now I’m hooked, and I see the appeal of the show. If by some miracle I’m not the only senior studying politics who hasn’t watched The West Wing, those of you out there like me should give it a try. We’ve been missing out.

It can be easy to feel disillusioned about politics after studying the process, the people and the strategy for a few years. Most of us come to GW optimistic that we can change the world and improve the political process all in one fell swoop. Some of us will leave that way, too – but not everyone.

The West Wing has made me feel a bit better about that. Watching creator Aaron Sorkin’s fictional characters Josh Lyman and Leo McGarry win hard-fought political battles makes me wonder if maybe a political career could be worth it, after all.

At the very least, The West Wing’s lovable characters have made me appreciate the strong drive that so many of my classmates have to succeed in the political arena. Plenty of students at GW have ambitious political aspirations, something to which I’ve always had a hard time relating.

But now, I understand. I understand why someone would be inspired by President Bartlet’s character, or why students aspire to be intelligent and respected speechwriters like Sam Seaborn. I understand the appeal of the hustle and bustle of The White House — even though what Sorkin shows us on screen isn’t real. The show makes it look fun, easy and fulfilling – which isn’t how politics appear in the real world.

It took me long enough, but I’m finally here. So bring on The West Wing references — but let me cram in a few more seasons, first.

Want to respond to this piece? Submit a letter to the editor.