Sydnie Long

When asked where she’s from, Sydnie Long doesn’t just reply “Texas.” She takes pride in the fact that she’s from “Dallas, Texas: home of the greatest football team in America.”

But unlike most Texans on Capitol Hill, Long has close ties to the Cowboys. Her parents, former drill sergeants, are both trainers for the team’s cheerleaders.

{mosads}

She credits them with her ability to handle the stress of working in Washington: “They taught me what it means to have discipline.”

Long applied for several jobs in Washington but was having a hard time getting hired. She says she then decided to “let God take care of it.”

She’s now a staff assistant for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

“It’s been an awesome opportunity to get to work for someone I admire every day,” Long exclaims. “We’ll see what the future holds and where God wants to bring me!”

— Taylor Lorenz