Sophmore at MGA

This is my second year at MGA. Last year I was a page who delivered messages and guarded the House Chamber's doors. This year I am a reporter. We write articles for MGA Times, interview candidates, and attend press conferences . The first night we brainstormed and came up with ideas for the newpaper we were to present. The next day, we conduct interviews and writes our stories. From Friday morning till 2:30 in the afternoon, we are in a rush to finish and proofread our articles for the newspaper. Once done writing, we wait while the papers are printed. From then on out the reporters relax for the rest of the day. This morning we woke up and came to the GAB where we blog and discuss topics regarding MGA as I am now. This year has been a learning experience that I really enjoyed. I am glad I was able to be a part of this great time. I can't wait for next year!

My first and last year at MGA has been one to remember. Not only did I meet some wonderful people but learned the perks of being a reporter.The reporters were at work and had a lot on there shoulders, but it paid off in the end. We created a newspaper, interviewed candidates runnning for office, and experienced what it was like to debate a bill. Although we were hard at work most of the time, we had some fun also. I was a little nervous when we arrived due to the fact i was the only reporter from my school and the fact i had never done this before, but I was quickly reassured by the friendly people. Although we had some what of a rough walk everyday, I got to see some wonderful sites at Richmond. I would reccomend MGA to anyone who asks about it because it is an experience that you will never forget.

My first year at MGA has been the least to say interesting. I made friends and shared laughs with people I've never met before in my entire life. I never knew Virginia was so big. I always just thought about my little dinky town, and then I get here and there are like 400-500 kids here. All of the diversity has really opened my eyes to a lot of things. Having all these different groups of people brings all differnent viewpoints to everything that passes through every commitee and every floor session which is critical to making a compromise possible. If i had any advice for the upcoming people at MGA it would deffinetly be first and foremost, make sure your door is shut before you start changing, girls-bring band-aids, and then make the most of every possible second of this experience. It may only be three days, and you may be on the go 24/7 and miss a meal or two, but it is so worth it. The friends and memories made, all the laughs and smiles shared, and all the stupid and lame pictures taken, DO NOT EVER forget them. Point-blank, this experience is a chance to grow and step out of your shell. Actually pay attention, the things that everyone is talking about are really relevant and can help later on when you can (or if you're 18) vote, or take a chance and say, "Hi." to the kid sitting next to you, who knows, that could turn into a friendship for the ages. MGA is a wonderful experience and even though I'ma Senior in high school and this is my first time here, if I had the opportunity to come back next year, there would not be anything stopping me.

Well this year I'm a new comer to the YMCA and i wish i would have known about this program before i was a senior. If a had the opportunity to come next year hell yea i will. Like it all started getting my bags ready, then we had a 2 1/2 hour drive to Richmond, it was fun i may say. But when we got to the hotel men it was pretty elegant hotel. Me and my friends were staying at the 10Th floor so best believe we had a awesome view. I played the role as a reporter and I'm pretty happy of the work are team did. We got hear on a Thursday afternoon and had a dead line on Friday at 2:30pm. It may sound like we had the preacher on us but the truth is that we had in off time to interview and type up are story. I liked being a reporter because first you have axis every ware and second you get to see the expression of students and staff when they read your MGA Times at Fridays dinner. Just hearing them talk about the topic i rote mad me proud of being a reporter. My experience in over all heir at the YMCA was awesome and if i had the opportunity to come next year i will definitely come.

Tainannett Centeno, Arlington Career Center

A Great Time at MGA

This is my second year at MGA and it is great! Last year I served as a page, and this year my current role is a reporter. At MGA we discuss and debate bills; however, the reporters have a different job. The reporters write a paper on major bills, MGA officer elections , and many other changes to the MGA system. After 2:30pm on friday, the paper must be finished, and the two hundred some copies are brought back to the hotel before the second election that night. I wrote a report on the change of the underclassmen legislature. This is a system in which new, typically freshmen, participants to MGA have a chance to learn how MGA works, so they have a good understanding of how to debate in the next couple of years. After the paper is written, the job of a reporter is pretty "laid back." Next year I plan to be a delegate or senator so I can debate and discuss bills. This is one of the highlights of each school year, so I am looking forward to it next year!

My Life at MGA

My life at MGA has been hectic but fun. On the first day, after getting lost trying to find a restaurant, we got right to work. As a reporter, I worked with my group members to come up with story ideas then went to the committee meetings to scope out some controversial bills. By the time we got back to the hotel it was pretty late but the energy of the first day kept us going. On the second day the most exciting part came, interviews. All the reporters went to interview a candidate for office at MGA, and then rushed back to the General Assembly Building to type, proofread, and print the stories. That night was the dance. After a cocktail style dinner we held the elections then went to our rooms to put on our dresses and ties. With blasting music and flashing lights we danced the night away. After a late night we get up on the third day to go for the last time to the capitol. This experience has been fun and I hope to come back next year. If I could give advice to someone coming next year I would say to bring an umbrella, a map, and get a good night’s sleep before you come.

Shelby Brooks, Radford

MGA Experience 2011

My experience at MGA this year has been fabulous. This is my first trip to MGA, and I have so many wonderful memories. For instance, before arriving at MGA my school stopped at Short Pump Mall, and my friends and I took funny pictures in numerous odd locations. Another fun experience was cramming about 25 people in the same elevator, which was definitely scary because I was certain the elevator would break and I would be stuck in the hot, cramped elevator forever. Another funny memory occurred when a friend of mine accidentally grabbed the wrong pair of shoes at the pool and had to run back to the pool deck to return them. My role at MGA this year was a reporter. I enjoyed listening in on the debates in both the House and the Senate and writing articles about the candidates and meaningful bills. I also was able to see how difficult it is to be a reporter. The process of making the newspaper was slightly hectic, but the finished product was well worth all the hard work. Overall, even though I did not get much sleep I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will definitely come back next year to make more memories and have more fun. By: Sarah Irby

This is my first year attending MGA, and so far this experience has been great. I love this environment and im hoping to be involved in politics in the future. My friends told me how much fun they had the previous years so I decided to attend this year. I love walking around the capitol, it is a beautiful building and the architecture is breath taking. As a reporter i was able to interview a variety of students, including candidates. This helped me learn the proper way to interview a person and take notes. I am hoping next year to be a Delegate so i will be able to experience that as well as being a reporter. This will most definately benefit me in the future. I am very thankful to have this organization in my home state of Virginia, and i think i can speak for alot of people. I will always remember my wonderful experience at MGA. By: Emily Robinson (Brunswick Academy)

MGA 2011

This year at MGA was like no other. The weekend was full of laughs. For instance, we packed about 25 people in the elevator at one time which definitely allowed you to get to know your neighbor! Aside from all the laughs, MGA has also been a big learning experience. In just 3 days, I have gained a better understanding for how our government works. This year, I played the role of a reporter which really allowed me to observe all parts of MGA and get a good overview of what goes on. We wrote stories about bills, candidates running for office, and other funny stories that happened over the weekend. MGA has taught me that being a reporter is not as easy as I once thought; but when you capture a really good story, it is all worth it in the end. Plus, it can be a lot of fun to get to interview a lot of different people and see all aspects of what is going on. Overall, MGA has been a big learning experience and I will definitely come back next year. By: Amanda Williams (Radford High School)

Youth Governor's Inaugural Ball

Friday night, massive lines formed on the second floor of the Crowne Plaza as MGA delegates impatiently waited for the cocktail dinner being prepared for them. When the floodgates opened at 6, students and teachers alike poured into the rooms to check out the delicious array of foods before us. Among other dishes, the menu included stir fry, fried rice, ham, chicken satay, and swedish meatballs. On the other side of the floor was MGA's World of Chocolate, where hungry MGA-goers could find a chocolate fountain, three kinds of chocolate fondue, mountains of foods to dip in chocolate, and some adorable dessert bowls. Everyone ate, drank, and was merry.

Soon enough, we moved into the ballroom to listen once more to the campaign speeches of those running for 2012 offices. It was standing room only, since the ballroom had been partly cleared out for dinner. Of those who could not find seats, some stood, some sat on the floor, and some pushed chairs together to form benches to fit more people. All of the candidates did a fantastic job delivering their speeches. Once everyone voted and turned in their ballots, we made our way upstairs to prepare for the Youth Governor's Inaugural Ball. Some waited for the elevator, some took the stairs. Some combined ideas and either went to the lobby to catch the elevator first, or went to other floors to get on as others got off. I ended up getting crowd surged into an elevator (and apparently knocking some people out of it in the process), which was a fun experience.

At 8:30 the dance began, and by 9 the room was packed with pumped up, sweaty teenagers. For those who wanted a break from the dancefloor, pitchers of water were set up just outside the ballroom, and a game room was set up in the room opposite. Personally, I spent some time in the game room playing Wii Resort and a game of Apples to Apples that included about a dozen people, but I stopped in every so often to check out the dance, too. Both rooms were open until midnight, though a number of delegates headed up to their rooms earlier, to get some chill time before lights out. Anyone who happened to be on floor 13 probably heard the noise as a big group of us crowded into a room to play Just Dance 2 ;)

Overall, the night was very entertaining. The YMCA and Crowne Plaza staff did a fantastic job putting the dinner and ball together, and everyone had a great time and fully exhausted themselves just in time for closing sessions.

- Shannon Payne, Kecoughtan

New Beginnings

For the past three years, I have attended MGA, and every year I have done something different. My first year, I was a delegate in the House of Reps. Although listening to debates was fun, I didn't feel comfortable in that environment. So the following year, I chose something new. I was an executive representative. I got the chance to speak with real legislators, and they talked to us about how to balance a budget for the state of Virginia. I know this may sound boring, but it was really interesting. We even got the chance to balance out the public safety budget for the state of Virginia. What made it even better, they actually took our calculations and advice to heart. Although I loved that position, I decided to try something new for my senior year. I became a reporter. After working with great people for the past two days, I have learned to appreciate journalism and how important it is to our society. People would have no idea what's going on in the world unless the press released the information. At 2011 MGA, I got the chance to express myself, and inform the readers of what is really going on around them. I made interviews, talked to youth legislators on certain bills, and have made great friends. All of these things has really opened my eyes to the world around me. After this weekend, I have found that there are many possibilities in the world of writing, and I plan to continue with writing, and making my voice known to the people. By: Rhavin Cooley, Goochland YMCA

Being a senior I was apprehensive about coming to MGA as a first-timer this year. I took on the job as reporter, which my fellow peers at home dubbed "the freshman job." Well, I wouldn't mind being a freshman, because I loved reporting!
I got a press pass that allowed me to to go to the Senate and Delegate houses and pull students for interviews. Being a social person anyway it was great to have an excuse to talk to new people and get to know what makes them tick (and I think many were relieved to stretch their legs a little after a long day of debating). I got to write an article on a candidate for Youth Attorney General, and it was so much fun to do. I wrote about her political stance, but also her interests and things that we bonded from (such as the fact that she's enrolled in a VASTS online course, which I did last year), which I knew would make her smile. After we waited for the paper to be xeroxed, which ended up being 14 pages long, we put them everywhere people would see them. I was so proud to have my name under my articles for all of MGA to read.
My perspective on MGA might be a little different from most, because I'm going into a performing arts major in college next year, so politics is not in my future thus far, but I found it to be very beneficial in that respect. The more an actor is able to understand different lifestyles the more diverse she can be in the roles she plays. I was put in an environment where I was allowed to act like a reporter, secretary, and politician while observing other people who have those as actual jobs. It gives me a real look into the lives of these people and how hurried, stressful, yet rewarding these jobs can be.
I loved the experience at MGA and my only regret is that I did not attend earlier in my high school career, but even from just one year at MGA I have learned so much about my peers and my role models.
Caitlin McAvoy (Turner Ashby High School)