Bethesda Blog

This has been a simply wonderful week, and Bethesda decided to wrap it up by collectively going over our favorite parts. Below are what the girls said were their favorite parts of the week.

“Getting repeatedly sung to by 97 people.” –Mahnoor Manmood

“The Wounded Warriors picnic was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done.” –Mahnoor Manmood

“I appreciated having to deal with the factions that developed in the party over one bill, having to figure out how to overcome it and how the party ended up becoming stronger for it. We grew so much.” –Aviva Shwader

“My favorite part was debating. The ability of some of the Senators to just think of something on their feet, and it’s well thought out and intense- that process was so neat to see.” Brooke Hagopian

“I enjoyed having free reign on Capitol Hill. Even though I already knew my Senators and Representatives, it was so great to get to spend time with them in their element. It was really eye-opening, and I got internship offers.” --Jacqueline Juffer
“Sitting in the gallery of the House, and watching them debate exactly the same we had been debating. It was neat to see that we were doing exactly what they were. I could totally see the girls saying the same things as the Senators just as well or even better.” --Becca Taylor

“I loved Nessie’s story. She persevered throughout the Holocaust despite the hardships. She turned her disappointments into a form of motivation and continued to live life to the fullest. That story will motivate me throughout my life. I can’t wait to take this story back home and spread its message.” –Laura Peng

“I loved experiencing how incredibly open and transparent our government is. It was amazing to be able to freely walk the halls of the capitol and the congressman’s buildings and go into talk to whoever we wished. Although I did not get the chance to talk with either of my senators, it was a great demonstration of how fantastic our government system is.” –Tracy Nelson

“It was great to actually get to see congress at work. After our mock congress sessions and having a better understanding of how congress works, it was amazing to be able to see the House of Representatives in session. Seeing it all in person is so much different than from a television screen. Of course, it was not nearly as exciting as finding out that there were so many girls here that shared my obsession for fancy G2 pens!” – Lucy Liu

“It was nice to see warrior house that I will never forget because they inspire me so much. I wish I were there at least 2 more hours because they like our story and how we help them. Also I have good time to meet the Boy Nation because they have different ideas. Last thing I want to say that many girls are very inspire my life and they push me to be better person. I love all the girls so much.”- Cille Patten

“Girls Nation has been one of the most influential experiences of my life. Making connections with my senators and representatives at Capitol Hill was incredible. However, what I enjoyed most was meeting their interns and staff. The support that they give to our political system is absolutely crucial. Seeing them quietly go about their job to better our world made me see that there is more to politics than partisan bickering and indecision. I have learned so many lessons from Girls Nation, and I’m sure I’ll realize that I learned even more as soon as I get home!”-- Molly Monk

Forever Remembered

Walking up to a group of girls in the airport, I’m anxious to see who I will meet. Instantly I hear words of welcome, friendly questions, and comparisons of Girls States. People are shouting, “You’re from Alaska?” or “You have summer homework?” This was going to be the beginning of a whirlwind of events throughout an amazing week.
From meeting the President (and hugging him), to walking around Capitol Hill with senators, everything this week will be forever remembered. Every girl in Girls Nation this year has made an impact on my life and I’m sure on the lives of others. Maybe we made fun of each others’ accents, or inquired on how they lived their life back in their home states, we all learned at least one new thing this week.
I would like to thank every staff member and counselor for providing this opportunity and helping along on this amazing journey. I would also love to thank every girl at Girls Nation for being their own lovely, beautiful, intelligent, crazy, funny, and all around amazing self. You all have changed my life forever. I love you girls!

The shimmering sun was burning the morning clouds from the sky as the flag floated away, carried by Georgetown community. My heart was bursting with pride as we all stepped in sync and we reached the flag pole. The day started out accordingly, with a patriotic ambiance around us. As we finished breakfast and loaded our bus to leave for the White House, I was overcome with a feeling of nationalism and pride. A few weeks ago, who would’ve known that I was going to step on ground that was built by the founding fathers of the greatest nation in the world? Who knew that I would be able to walk the rooms that Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt, James Madison, and many others resided in? Who knew that I would feel a part of history myself and be able to honor those who fought for me and my rights in such a way?

Today’s visit to the White House made me view the world with a different set of eyes. I managed to reach high and find the hidden stars that lay in my soul. The history of the White House and those who resided in it helped me see the importance of the rights and freedoms I have today. It helped me see that because I am a woman, I can make a difference in the world, and because I am a part of Girls Nation, I already am fulfilling that goal. All the support and kindness offered to me here along with the visits to some of the most beautiful and important monuments in our country, have taught me to be proud of who I am as an individual working amongst others who aspire towards the same goals. Today, I opened my eyes to the endless opportunities that lay before me in the future. I learned that my time is limited, and I do not need to be living someone else’s life to be content or to make others happy. I learned that my inner voice can be stronger than all others opposing me, and that listening to my heart and intuition is best because they already seem to know where I want to go and be at. Because of today and of all the wonderful other individuals that I have the pleasure to be with at Girls Nation, I realized that Gandhi was right when he said strength comes not from physical capacity, but from an indomitable will.

Stefania Cotei

Why I Serve

I was raised with the utmost respect for the American military. For many generations members of my family have answered our nation’s call, have donned the uniform, and have served this nation proudly. As much as I respected their decisions, I knew that was never the path for me. Although it sounds cliché, my path was decided my junior year of high school a few months after I turned 17. That was the year I was selected to go to Hoosier Girls State as a delegate. While there, my feelings of patriotism and pride grew, and I learned more about how our state and local governments operate. At Girls State, I had the honor of being selected to represent Indiana at Girls Nation. Even before I went to Girls Nation, I knew my life would change forever.
The next year I was invited to speak to the Hoosier Girls State delegates and tell them about my experiences, both at HGS and at GN. I found that the task was impossible – I could never put into words just what I had gone through and the impact those programs would have on me. That same summer, just following my high school graduation, I served on the HGS staff as a junior counselor. I felt that I had to give something back to the American Legion Auxiliary because of all that they had done for me. Yet one week’s volunteerism still seemed inadequate. The next year I returned, then the year after that, and again the following year. This summer marked my tenth year on staff. Ten years of giving up a nine-day period of my summer to volunteer as a staff member. Almost three entire months of my life I have spent at the ISU campus where our Girls State is held, yet the experience is entirely worth it (and I know my volunteerism pales in comparison to some of our staff members!). Only days before Girls Nation began this year, I was invited to serve on staff in place of a dear friend who is unable to attend this year. Without hesitation, I agreed to come and serve. Yet it seems as if the more I return to serve, the more indebted I feel to this organization.
The national mission of the American Legion Auxiliary focuses on service, not self. The Auxiliary gives each of us a chance to serve our veterans, our military, their families, and our communities. By donating our time to the Auxiliary and its programs, we are serving those who serve. I encourage all of this year’s Senators to Girls Nation to find their own way to give back to the American Legion Auxiliary. When this week ends and you return to your respective states, take what you have been given and share it. For some it might mean joining your local unit of the Auxiliary. For several, it might mean talking to the juniors in your high school and encouraging them to attend Girls State. Others of you might heed the call as I did and serve the ALA by means of volunteering at your own Girls States. Whatever your niche is, I encourage you to find it. It would be a shame if you kept all that you have experienced to yourself and not allowed it to enrich your life, your family, and your community. I have learned that although I might not ever wear a uniform, what I do makes a difference, and through my service I have the opportunity to influence the lives of hundreds of girls each year.

Katie Cochran

Life in the Government Office

Since all four government staff members are teachers / professors / or retired from teaching, it only seemed appropriate that I should dedicate a blog to some of the lessons I have learned this week.

1) If a bus trip is supposed to last 20 minutes, factor in at least 30 minutes.
2) Schedule changes happen at Girls Nation, and frequently.
3) I learned how to sign “good morning, good afternoon, and good night” in sign language – and how to sign “my bad” for when I make mistakes.
4) Staff members never grow too old to collect and swap pins with the senators.
5) After 10 years of cheering for the Federalist party, it is tough to be the Assistant Nationalist Party Leader…I’ve joked that I have been a “Fat Ned” this week.
6) Even after eight straight days of it, a brownie with vanilla ice cream at lunch is still delicious. Plus, there are over 700 possible ice cream combinations available at lunch.
7) Nats don’t die, they multiply. Whereas the Feds are fabulous, fun, and funky.
8) I smile too much to be a part of the Not-So-Secret Service.
9) The novelty of meeting the President of the United States never grows old!
10) Our PR staff is amazing and they can Photoshop just about anything that we ask of them.
11) Mia, Catherine Gayle, Addison, Laura Kate, Talley, Francesca, Cori, and Jen are the JCs this week. The rest of the world might think they are Junior Counselors, but I know that they are Junior Cherubs. Those girls have handled everything that we have thrown at them this week…motion sickness…home sickness…the endless counting of votes…singing songs on busses…and they do it all with a smile on their face. I learned that I am going to miss this group of angels.
12) We can be confident in the future of our country. Patriotism and pride are alive and strong at Girls Nation. This group of girls is ready to run things – we just need to get out of their way. This point was emphasized tonight when Senator Christina Ostmeyer of Kansas mentioned on the Senate floor, “We’re not just the future, we’re the now.”

Katie Cochran
Government Staff
Indiana / Missouri

Foggy Bottom Blog

Tuesday, the ladies of Girls Nation 2011 had the great privilege to meet the President of the United States of America. The most powerful man in the world took time out of his busy schedule and stressful debt talks to meet and to encourage us. If that isn’t considerate, I’m not sure what is. Regardless of political ideology, standing ten feet away from him, I experienced his awesome charisma. Barack Obama has the grandest, most confident and inspiring presence of anyone I think I will ever meet. I feel so blessed to have had the honor to sing to him in the Yellow Room.

The day was filled with an inspirational talk from a Holocaust survivor (an incredible and awesome woman, Nessie Godin, who planted compassion for the world in all of our hearts), a night tour of the memorials (name after name after name, these men sacrificed their lives for ME, for MY freedom –- that’s overwhelming) and monuments (the Lincoln Memorial was my favorite), senate sessions (the senate resolved that chickens are required to be humanely killed now, y’all), and primary elections for presidential and vice-presidential candidates (Kayla Imbush, the Nationalist party’s candidate is going to dominate!). However close we are becoming (honorary sisters, really), by now we are drowning in estrogen, and everyone is obsessed with stalking the Boys Nation boys on the Internet and highly anticipating meeting them. Apparently the Alabama boys are the cutest, which is “exciting” for Mary Parrish and I. Of course, we already knew that Alabama boys were the cutest. It’s something about the South, y’all. We grow ‘em good.

-Senator Laura Ann Prickett, Foggy Bottom

Life in the Government Office

Whoa you’re halfway there,
Whoa living on a prayer!

No one describes our day as well as Bon Jovi!

Building upon energy from yesterday, the girls made the most of their Tuesday at Girls Nation. We held our party conventions this morning and we elected our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates for each party. Congratulations and good luck!

After a lightning fast lunch, we jumped aboard the busses and headed to the White House. I can’t describe how amazing it was to meet the President of the United States. To kill time waiting on President Obama to arrive, the senators and staff began to sing a medley of patriotic songs. As we finished the second round of “You’re a Grand Old Flag” we heard applause coming from down the hallway…and President Barack Obama came out on the red carpet and into the room where we were all anxiously awaiting (some of us VERY anxiously!). He chatted with the senators, gave a short speech, and then took photos with the group of senators and the group of the staff. It was truly overwhelming.

As soon as the wheels stopped turning in the 4-H Center parking lot (and the high from meeting the President was beginning to wear off ever so slightly), we raced to Senate. While in session the senators passed SB 4 (TX) the Resident Rights Extension Act and SR 2 (NH) Humane Poultry Slaughter. We adjourned to hold quick party meetings and then we were off to flag. From flag we ran to dinner, the government staff gobbled down food and came back to do work in the office, and then we heard the story of a Holocaust survivor. Many of us were moved to tears as she spoke about her experiences before, during, and after WWII. Then we were dismissed to board the busses for a monument tour. The girls sang at the Vietnam Memorial then we visited the Lincoln Memorial and Korean Memorial. While walking along the Vietnam Wall I saw a veteran and thanked him for his military service to our country. I was quite surprised when he responded back, “Thank you girls for singing here tonight.” What we did tonight paled in comparison to the years he had served, but it meant a lot to him.

I can’t believe how much we have crammed into today (and every day). We are still in the office tonight working – and wondering just how we will make it through the rest of the week. But as the song says, we are halfway there!!

Before I sign off I wanted to share something a senator said earlier today…Senator Margolis (NC) commented in the Nationalist Party Convention, “It’s been one of the most amazing weeks of my life – and it’s only Tuesday.” I am so happy that the girls are enjoying themselves, and I know that every minute we volunteer here this week is well worth it as we see their smiles.

Til Tomorrow,
Katie Cochran
Government Staff
Indiana / Missoui