Trevor Horne has spent the last six years behind the counter at a St. Albert Starbucks, making tall extra-hot Americanos and getting paid in tips.

But by the end of the month, he'll be drawing a somewhat heftier paycheque, given his annual $127,000 salary as a freshly-elected MLA.

"Yeah, my income suddenly made a dramatic change," Horne laughed, sitting on the patio of his former workplace.

"I'm excited to get to work. A lot to get done, obviously."

The 24-year-old political science student said he ran for the NDP in his riding of Spruce Grove-St. Albert because he was fed up with the direction the province was going. On May 5, he was one of the wave of NDP candidates that washed over the province, propelling the party to a 53-seat majority.

Horne, who received nearly twice the votes of the second-place PC candidate, said he was not surprised to win the riding, but he was a bit shocked by the breadth of support the party received.

Since the election, much has been made of the lack political experience among the majority of the caucus: only four of the 53 MLAs have held a seat in the legislature before. The recent controversy over photos posted to social media by another rookie NDP MLA-elect have shown how vulnerable the party can be to claims of inexperience.

Horne doesn't think the backgrounds of the new MLAs will be a problem. He admits they have a lot of on-the-job learning to do, but argues the province would be better served by MLAs who better represent the people living in their ridings.

He goes as far to say that his barista background has given him some skills that the past crop of MLAs could have used.

"Customer service will definitely come in handy," he said. "Finding answers to questions that people might have."

Preparing for a career change

Right now, Horne's focus is on the transition. No date has been set yet for the MLA-elects to be sworn in and begin their jobs. He decided against quitting his job immediately and is instead working out his last couple weeks at Starbucks.

On top of his shifts, he's juggling all the errands that come with making the transformation from student to politician: he's trying to find office space and has to pick up a new set of suits for his job.

Horne, who currently lives with his parents as he completes his studies at MacEwan University, said he will also have to look for a new place to live.

When he does get settled, he hasn't found an issue that will be his focus, although he did say he is passionate about better education, healthcare and job opportunities in the province.

As part of a younger government, Horne hoped his election, and that of others like him, will do more to encourage younger Albertans to get involved in the political process. He thinks his age will be an asset. He said he has knowledge that an older politician may not, like how to best reach constituents on social media — and how to avoid making blunders.

"Either use social media effectively, or just don't use it. It can backfire on you," he said. "If you wouldn't say it in front of a camera, don't bother."

Many of the regulars who are used to seeing Horne in a green apron may miss him, but most have been supportive of his career change. And while he'll no longer have a tip jar in front of him, he said he's sure his new constituents will let him know what kind of job he's doing when he starts up in his new role.