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Bunkerville Teen Shares Nevada Girls State Experience

By MADISON JULIEN

Moapa Valley Progress

Madison Julien

I was honored to be chosen to go to American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls Nevada State this summer. This program, which aims to teach young girls the fundamentals of how the state government operates, took place from June 16-22.
Girls State was a fun experience. But it was also a lot of hard work.

Girls from all over the state converged at the 4-H camp area in Reno. The large group of girls was separated into different “cities” and “counties”. Once there, we did not waste any time.

Monday, June 17, started off with a bang. We finished our campaign speeches for both city and county positions. Then we voted. I was elected to serve as a County Treasurer.

In between campaigning for office, there were guest speakers. Melana Raymond from the Washoe County Board of Trustees, and Patricia Gallimore from the NAACP addressed us. Both of these ladies had interesting things to say. I enjoyed hearing their opinions.

Throughout the day we also worked on our bills with our parties. After dinner on Monday we voted on legislation we wanted to use for our mock Legislative Session in Carson City.

A group of Girls State participants organized into the city of Cafferata. Local Girls State attendee Madison Julien was a member of this group. PHOTO BY MADISON JULIEN/Moapa Valley Progress.

Tuesday we all started to get the hang of the busy schedule. In the morning we had some lobbying training. We also worked on our public speaking skills. The day was full of learning for me.

In the afternoon we held Primary Elections for state offices. I decided to be brave and ran for Lieutenant Governor. In that same day we gave our speeches for the General Elections. We also had more meetings that day before lights out at 12 a.m.

Rise and shine and it was Wednesday! My favorite part about Wednesday was guest speaker Assemblywoman Alexis Hansen. She taught us all about what the legislative session is like. It was so interesting to hear her perspective of things and what her favorite bills of the session were.

That night we got the General Election results back. I was so nervous to find out how I had done. The good news was I was elected to be Lieutenant Governor for the Session in Carson City. I was so excited because I would be able to act as President of the Senate.

Finally the long awaited Thursday morning came. We piled onto the buses at 7:30 am and headed to Carson City for our Legislative Session. It was so much fun! I was really nervous at first but then I got the hang of it. A recording of our Session was actually posted on the Nevada Legislature website.

Friday was mostly a break except for the many girls that desired to go to Girls Nation. Girls Nation is the same thing as Girls State but on the federal level. Only two out of the 85 or so girls would be chosen to represent Nevada there.

Speeches from the interested girls would be made that afternoon. But only 10 girls would be selected to give speeches. I was one of the girls selected to give a speech and was really excited but nervous. All 10 girls would wait in a separate cabin. We would be called into the main building, one at time, to be asked a question and then to give our speech.

I was the last one to give the speech out of the 10 of us. We heard the results that night. I was honored to be one of the two girls chosen to represent Nevada and go to Girls Nation enlisted as a Senator.

I was ecstatic! I was deeply grateful (and still am) that I was chosen to go.
Saturday came and there were a lot of sad farewells, realizing that we wouldn’t see each other for a while.

I loved every minute of Girls State and I am extremely grateful that I was able to go. Thanks to The America Legion Auxiliary for sponsoring girls like me to go learn, dream and become something more.

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