On January 3rd, Tim Scott will have a lot of first. It will be his first term as senator from South Carolina. But, also, he will be the first black senator since Reconstruction and the first republican senator in 34 years. He will also be the only black senator.

Getting praise from outgoing Senator Jim Demint as well as Governor Nikki Haley, Scott worked hard to get to this level. He dropped out of school in the ninth grade. For his success, he credits his mother, a single parent, “It was a strong family, my mom did a really, really good job of encouraging me in very clear and discerning ways. At the same time, I had to go to work. That gave me this work ethic that was necessary.”

He believes that America is made up of hard-working people and will pick up very soon. He set his goals while in office to look to the future, “I look towards the future and I say to myself, how can we impact the nation and keep the American dream alive for the next generation? And that’s what we’re trying to build.”

As the only black senator, the first time senator believes that marketing minority beliefs is the way to get more GOP support from minorities. He says, “I believe that America is still very much a center right country. And so what we have is an opportunity to walk into new places and new territories and simply say that the plan is clear. The way forward is clear. And market ourselves effectively in these new places.”