(By Ava Reikofski) On June 1 through June 7, I was sent down to Lincoln to attend the Nebraska Cornhusker Girls' State Convention. Going into this, I had no idea what to expect and I won't lie and say I wasn't a little nervous about it. I arrived to Sandoz Hall on Sunday, June 1, to get checked in and this is where I learned that for the next week I was going to be part of the city of Obama in Washburn County. I was going to be living on the ninth floor of this building, which is 131 steps up. We had little time to meet our roommates before we needed to get headed out for our first activity, which was running for city positions. I personally ran for senator and I later learned that I would receive this position. Each day was filled with a different activity, including going down to the capital building, attending sections, and listening to key speakers, like Julie Slama and Jim Pillen. As a senator, I was grouped with my floor mates, and we created our very own bill, which was taken into discussion with fellow senators from other floors or cities. My city's floor was one of the only bills that passed throughout our discus - sions and debates. We were able to introduce our bills in the Warner chamber, which is located in the capital building. Most days consisted of very late nights and extremely early mornings, but with that, we were given the opportunity to learn something new each day and apply ourselves to uncomfortable situations, which is something I think we all need a little more of. This year at Girls State was the first year we were allowed to play sports, and floor nine is very proud to say we are the first ever champions of flag football.
While by the end of the week I was definitely ready to go home, the things that I learned were very important and inspiring. But above everything, the people I met are ones that will stick with me forever. Some days were longer and a little more boring than others, but what we really looked forward to was the late nights we got to spend with the new people we got to meet. Luckily for me, my floor was filled with different, fun, interesting, and sweet women who we all still talk to to this day. While in some ways I was dreading this week, it is one I wouldn't change for the world. Many other girls were having the same thoughts as me, but by the end of the first day, we were all beyond grateful to be given this opportunity. If anybody were to ask me about Girls State, I would tell them that the experiences you get here are ones you really can't find anywhere else. These girls are just like you; they're your age and a lot of them have the same interests as you. We're all a year away from college and our lives are starting to begin, but you are put together for one week to learn the same things and apply them to your different lives. I am beyond grateful that I was given this opportunity and I will forever say thank you to the ones that allowed me to go. I am proud to say I am now a member of the American Legion Cornhusker Girls' State Alumni, and I will never stop recommending this opportunity to the future generations and again, thank you to the ones who allowed me this opportunity.
