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Students tell Oakfield-Alabama board Close-Up Washington trip opened civic perspectives
Summary
Two students who attended Close-Up Washington described how workshops, Capitol Hill Day and discussions with peers from across the country broadened their civic understanding and confidence; they credited staff chaperones for the experience.
Two students who attended the Close-Up Washington program told the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District board how the trip influenced their civic learning and personal development.
Kendall Newbold, a senior, said the trip "single handedly pushed me out of my comfort zone" and that meeting students from across the country helped her "take a really large step back and look at the country as a whole instead of just local issues." She said the experience strengthened her desire to pursue social-studies teaching and to encourage future students to engage beyond their comfort zones.
Another student, Antonio, described attending workshops on issues ranging from immigration to food-stamp policy led by practitioners including a former U.S. diplomat: "It's just like it's a great alumni part of the close-up and it's really opened my eyes to the political world in The United States," he said, adding that civil conversations with peers were a highlight.
A staff member who chaperoned the trip outlined the itinerary, including visits to the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court and a Capitol Hill Day when students observed the Senate and participated in a model-congress exercise. Board members praised the students and the chaperones for bringing civic lessons back to the district.
The remarks were presented early in the meeting as part of the board's recognitions and served as a lead-in to the evening's budget workshop and other agenda items.
