Trio represents Aledo in elite event

Three Aledo High School students received a special honor this summer when they were invited to participate in Texas Girls State, an organization that lists among its goals to educate our youth in the duties, privileges, and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Sarah Miller, Eleanor Jack, and Madison Haynes all represented AHS at the June event at Texas Luthern University in Seguin, and Miller said the application process alone was quite daunting.

 

Miller

“Initially, school admin had reached out to me asking if I would be interested in the process — my background in debate is likely where that came from,” Miller said. “We filled out a form on paper with various questions like why we should be selected from the process and what sets us apart from our peers if I remember correctly. Initially I was wait-listed, but was contacted later in the summer and I was selected to attend.”

Miller, 17, was under the impression that it would be “heavily politics-based” and “divided.”

The incoming senior was pleasantly surprised.

“It ended being an incredibly unifying and fulfilling week, in which I met incredible young women with incredible backgrounds, and established truly valuable relationships,” Miller said.

Texas Girls State teaches young women about civil services through activities that simulate the various functions of government.

Miller, for example, ran for governor of her city, and while not elected, she was appointed by the state officials as the Commissioner of Ethics for the state.

Then during the closing ceremony, she was voted by her peers as City F's Outstanding Citizen.

“The biggest takeaway I had at Girls State was that the election process is an incredibly valuable thing when used and applied fairly," Miller said. "Similarly, I realized that I may have a deeper interest in pursuing politics, as my favorite part of Girls State was debating and the entire parliamentary procedure.”

Miller is actually a debate captain at Aledo High School, as well as a member of the leadership team in the Bearcat regiment, editor of the yearbook, a member of the International Honor Society of Journalistic High School Students, also known as Quill and Scroll, and a member of National Honor Society among other activities.

The AHS senior hopes to attend Columbia University after graduation.

 

Jack

For Jack, 17, the trip to Texas Girl's State was a great introduction to her desired career path.

“I do plan on pursuing a career in politics," Jack said. "I plan on attending college as either a political science or international relations major with a minor in journalism. I hope to one day serve overseas as a US correspondent/diplomat working in a foreign embassy or work with the CIA/FBI as an analyst in a political capacity.”

Jack got the opportunity to practice her diplomatic skills at the summer event.

"I ran for the position of Justice of the Peace in my county,” Jack said. “I wrote and delivered two speeches to my fellow constituents before ultimately falling to my opponent. Throughout the week, I attended lectures on the various levels of government and worked with the people around me in the Senate to pass legislation on the 'state' level.

"We collaborated on bills and spent our free time creating and campaigning with posters, slogans, speeches, and so much more. By the end of the week, I was crushed to leave my favorite people and sad to see such an eye-opening experience come to an end.”

Jack is the President of the Aledo High School Student Council, vice president of the Bearcat Regiment, Education Committee head in Aledo’s chapter of the National Honor Society, captain of the Academic UIL Writing Team, and a varsity athlete in both tennis and soccer.

She plans to attend college at William and Mary next fall.

 

Haynes

Haynes was impressed by the structure of Texas Girls State, and how everything was "planned down to the minute, and very, very busy," throughout the duration of the event.

"Never once outside of designated rest times did things feel boring or pointless," Haynes said. "Almost every single day, we participated in voting amongst ourselves — voting on bills, voting for candidates, voting on legislation in House or Senate sessions. Voting was a very big part of girl’s state.

Haynes, 17, said the event also affected how she views politics in the sense that it opened her mind to other points of view.

“Texas Girls State itself was very staunchly nonpartisan," Haynes said. "But talking to other girls there about their personal political opinions helped shed light on several issues in ways I’ve never thought of before. It was a real eye-opener. It also helped me understand just how important funding is to so many different issues.

“I would say this event helped me open my eyes to the reasons behind why people think the things they do, and not just the topics themselves or even the people themselves.”

Haynes is involved in the art program at Aledo High School and is applying to Baylor, the University of Kansas, LSU, and University of Texas in Austin.