Hi! I'm Hannah, and I want to be your Northern California Governor next year. |
Who am I?
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My experience
Cabinet:
For the past two years, I've worked in the Convention Department, under the Governor. I, as well as the other 17 members of my department essentially plan each of the three main conventions. My job is, to put it simply, writing the agendas. A better explanation is that I spend hours studying hotel maps, collaborating with both the Debate and Logistics departments to put each debate into a room, and fix any problems that might arise leading up to or during our conventions. Along with these responsibilities, I also manage the Debate and Logistics departments, and help oversee the selection of debates, the planning of nighttime activities, and work to make sure that every convention is successful. I honestly can't think of a better feeling than seeing everything come together at conventions, and seeing the hard work of not only my department, but every department who contributed something to make the convention happen.
JSA Summer Programs:
As a Freshman I attended JSA Summer School at Georgetown, where I studied Constitutional Law. It was there that I discovered that JSA reaches beyond our state, and that students everywhere are being impacted by the message of JSA. Summer School quite literally changed my life, not only from learning everything I could ever need to know about James Madison, but also in that it exposed me to opinions, people, and political views much different to the ones here in NorCal. I truly believe that attending Summer School is a vital part of the JSA experience, which is another reason strengthening Fundraising and Publicity next year is so important.
Favorite JSA Memory?
My little sister has always hated the idea of JSA, probably because she wanted nothing to do with me. Despite my begging her to come to a convention with me, she always refused claiming that JSA has nothing to offer her. Somehow, I convinced her to attend Winter State. At first she was shy and was confused about what was going on, and where to go, but by the second committee she had spoken at her first debate. She warmed up to the kids in our chapter, paid attention to the debates, and she seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. When we were leaving the hotel, I asked her if she would come to the next convention and she said yes. The girl who believed that JSA had nothing to offer her left her first convention the same way many of us do: wanting more. I think my sister's experience is reflective of the effect JSA has on students. Kids who feel that their voices don't matter, who aren't interested in politics, who don't want to stand in front of a crowd and debate, all find something in JSA. This organization has an incredible power to expose students like my little sister to viewpoints they hadn't considered. I want every delegate's experience in JSA to be like that of my sister's. I want every delegate to leave JSA a more confident speaker, to be more knowledgeable about current events and politics, but so much more than that, a more open-minded and civically engaged person.
Favorite convention?
My favorite convention has got to be Winter State. Being in the California State Capitol is really a unique experience, but debating there makes it even more special. I think the enthusiasm of all the delegates combined with the array of bills that pertain to real-life issues makes Winter State my favorite convention.