Imagine a nation where the government leads with empathy, not ego; heart, not hierarchy. A nation where debate serves to open minds, not polarize. A nation of girls, for girls.
Welcome to Girls Nation.
Girls Nation is a week-long program that takes two exceptional girls from each state and flies them out to Washington D.C. for the experience of a lifetime. This summer, I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of the two girls to represent Illinois at Girls Nation. In June, I was elected as Senator Leong from Illinois Girls State, and in July, I stepped foot in the nation’s capitol.
On that first day in D.C., I must’ve met three or four dozen girls. It was a whirl of introductions that left me feeling like I had found a place where I belonged. Beyond their intelligence or eloquence, every single girl there was incredibly kind. As a young woman, I had never felt so empowered by the people around me.
One of the most striking things about Girls Nation was the depth of conversation. Sitting at the dinner table, we would talk about our beliefs, current politics, and how our experiences shaped us as individuals. That’s not to say we weren’t silly at times—we were all still teenage girls, after all. But I truly believe that the best and brightest female leaders of tomorrow will come from Girls Nation.
To my fellow Girls Nation senators: I have no doubt that you will all go on to do great things, and it’s been an honor to share this experience with you.
Thank you to the American Legion Auxiliary for sponsoring Girls Nation, and thank you to my community, my city, and my family for supporting me along every step of the way.
Senator Leong, out.
