A Madison teen is heading to Girls Nation this month.
Caroline Wright, a rising senior at Madison County High School and the Blue Ridge Virginia Governor’s School, recently attended Virginia Girls State and has been chosen as one of two Virginians to attend Girls Nation July 19-26 in Washington, D.C.
Virginia Girls State is a program of the American Legion Auxiliary and was held June 15-20 at Longwood University. The “government in action” program teaches rising high school seniors the responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society. Attendees are chosen through an interview process with their local auxiliary. Wright was the first Madison American Legion Auxiliary candidate in several years to attend the program. She said the experience was one to remember, calling it “spectacular.”
“I met so many amazing girls who, for the most part, want to pursue the same things I do and have the same interests,” Wright said. “It was really refreshing and motivating to be surrounded by such ambitious and high-achieving people.”
Wright said she learned how the state government works. Girls State is a simulation of Virginia government with participants seeking election to every position–governor, attorney general, etc. all the way down to mayor and city council. Once elected, girls perform the duties associated with the positions. Wright opted to not seek election to a position, choosing instead to campaign for Girls Nation. Only two girls from each state are chosen to attend the national program.
Virginia’s Girl Nation attendees are selected following a speech competition, something Wright knows a thing or two about as an award-winning member of the MCHS Speech Team. During the competition, each “city” in the Girls State simulation listens to a speech from the residents of that city who have chosen to run for Girls Nation. A vote is taken and the top vote getter in each city then gives a three-minute speech to the entire Girls State which is then judged by a panel. The panel also reviews a written application from each girl. Wright said she competed against seven other girls. The speech topic was a piece of legislation the participant would present to the Senate if chosen for Girls Nation. Wright’s speech was for a federal ban on child marriage. She was chosen for Girls Nation.
“As most people who have spent any time with me know, my dream is to attend college in Washington, D.C.,” Wright said. “The goal was always to attend Girls State and be selected for Girls Nation. At Girls State we are referred to as delegates, but at Girls Nation, we are referred to as senators.”
Wright said because two girls from each state attend Girls Nation, the assemblies function as Senate sessions. She’s already at work on a bill with her fellow Virginia attendee, Helena from Loudon County. The two plan to present it while at Girls Nation.
“I’m very excited to get some experience in parliamentary procedure and legislative formatting,” Wright said, noting she’s also excited for the field trips attendees will take. “Some of our excursions including the Arlington National Cemetery, the Capitol Building and there are even some whispers of a possible invite to the White House.”
Participating in Girls State was a formative experience, Wright said, and more girls should apply to attend. She said the experience has made her more motivated and confident in herself because she was required to prove herself through hard work. She encourages all rising seniors to apply for Girls State and once there, run for everything.
“Since I was chosen for Girls Nation, I wasn’t eligible for bigger positions like Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General, but there are lots of other smaller positions that you can try for,” she said. “Remember, everyone there is experiencing this for the first time as well, so get yourself out there and campaign. The best thing about the program is if you don’t get elected to the first position you want, there’s always another to run for.”
A majority of Girls State attendees are from Northern Virginia and attend large public or private schools. Wright said going in, she was worried that being from a small, rural school would be a disadvantage when seeking the Girls Nation nomination.
“My win wasn’t just for myself, but for all girls from rural areas who did make up the minority that week,” she said. “If your heart is telling you to run for a large position, even governor or Girls Nation, don’t let the idea of competing against others scare you. If you know what you want and work hard to get it, you have just as equal a shot as anyone else.”
It’s a big summer for Wright. In addition to Girls State and Nation, she’s interning at the Madison County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
“As a part of my Blue Ridge Virginia Governor’s School senior capstone project, we have to shadow someone in a career field we are interested in, so reaching out to [Clarissa Berry] was a no-brainer,” Wright said. “My project will focus on civic literacy and how citizens of rural communities can better understand their local government and how it works. This is a topic I am extremely passionate about, and have some great ideas in the works for the coming year, so stay tuned.”
After graduation next year, Wright plans to attend a four-year university, most likely in Washington, D.C., to pursue degrees in American Government and Political Science with a possible concentration in Homeland Security on a pre-law track. She hopes to pursue law school and a Ph.D.
“Law and politics have always felt like my calling so I hope to become the best lawyer and politician I can be,” Wright said.
