CLP 2009: Day 23, Monday June 22

College Leaders Program Class of 2009
Day 23—Monday, June 22, 2009
Reported by: Jesica Turner, Christopher Newport University

Sorensen never fails to amaze me.  It’s the beginning of our last week here at UVA, and I still get shocked and excited at all the opportunities we’ve been blessed with.  After getting a day off with for Father’s Day, we all awoke this morning well rested and ready to tackle our final week in the College Leader’s Program.  The energy was topped off with the knowledge that we’d be privy to two very special guests today.
     Class this morning began with a discussion of the boundaries of responsibility between state and local government.  I found it to be a very intriguing dialogue as we walked through some of the major responsibilities of government and hashed out where the jurisdiction of state and local government lies.  What was even more interesting than the discussion however, was the dynamic of the classroom.  Originally, I would’ve expected the debate over the role of government to be fairly heated topic.  Now, after three weeks together, we were all able to crack casual jokes about issue positions while still maintaining an intelligent conversation.  I think this dynamic has truly allowed us to discuss the issues in a more open-minded atmosphere and is something I will always treasure about Sorensen.
            When we broke for lunch, it was with the knowledge that our guests would be arriving soon.  We were all very eager because we would be honored with a visit from Congressman Tom Perriello and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer!  The two came to discuss PAYGO legislation and fiscal responsibility.  Even though we had just spoken with Perriello last week in D.C., I swear some of us were all a little star struck to see him and Hoyer in our classroom, talking to us about their legislation.  Hoyer emphasized that we need to hold the government accountable for the money they are spending so that our generation doesn’t inherit all of the debt from current spending.  He reminded us that in just a few short years we will be making very important decisions about the country and we need to start practicing fiscal responsibility now.  Perriello and Hoyer closed their visit with a quote from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address:  "The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring this endeavor will light our bounty and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world."
     By the end of the day we were all tired and ready to take naps or even head to sleep.  But there was still one more exciting event for the day.  One of our fellow classmates, Brian Marroquin, was going to be featured on PBS NewsHour tonight!  All twenty-seven of us gathered in one living room to watch the mini-documentary and support our friend, who is doing incredible work with AmeriCorps.
     As things wound down and I reflected on the entire day, I realized that my classmates still continue to impress me everyday.  Kennedy’s quote rang true.  What we are doing here is unprecedented.  The things we will do in the future will change the world.  I can't wait to see where I will find my classmates after we graduate!
 
—Jesica Turner, Christopher Newport University