HSLP 2009: Day 5, July 15

High School Leaders Program Class of 2009
Day 5— Wednesday, July 15
Reported by: Ashley Murphy, William Fleming High School and Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, Roanoke

     As odd as it sounds, for most of us, our day began with sleep.  I woke up around 5:45am to prepare for my day, but as soon as I settled onto my seat for the three hour ride to Alexandria, my brain and body went back into a dormant state.  When we did arrive into the historically rich Old Town, I felt welcomed by its charm and charisma: the boutiques and stores, and especially the riverfront.
     Our opening speaker was Frank Fannon, a member of the Alexandria city council.  He provided information about government on a local level, especially living in the sometimes complicated part of Virginia known as “NoVa.”  Mr. Fannon’s lecture was of particular interest to me because he touched on the topic of solving the transportation problems in that area, which will be of great assistance when I work with my group on the culminating project.
     Second, Amy Gardener spoke to us about her career as a reporter for the Washington Post newspaper.  She discussed how Virginia is a state unlike any other because of its tendency to be purple, not blue or red like some others, as well as her role as a reporter and the significance of print media in educating the public on the government’s policies.
     I was impressed listening to the accomplishments of Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for Attorney General.  He is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute, which demonstrates how Sorensen plays a large role in forming Virginina's political leaders.  He was also one of the founders of the Amber Alert system in Virginia.
      My personal favorite speaker of the day was Delegate Adam Ebbin, who is running for re-election in November.  He talked about how he tries to keep debates as professional as possible, and not cross the line into personal attacks.  I think this is a very important quality and should be used by everyone, not just politicians.
     As of now, I can already tell that Sorensen has changed my outlook of politics, especially in Virginia.  I have met people from all over my state; although when talking about the issues our regions face, we are still quirky teenagers with the desire to learn and grow.  And until now, I had never given a thought to creating a Facebook profile, but if Bob Gibson has one, I must really be missing out on that revolution.
 
— Ashley Murphy, Roanoke