'Fun' Would Be an Understatement

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As my last day at MGA arrives, I begin to look back on everything that has happened at my time spent here. My first day was pretty overwhelming; I was new to the whole experience. I walked in to the Marriott Hotel nervous and unknowing of what lies ahead of me. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited nonetheless. The hotel seemed to be swarming with new and returning students. Of course being a “newbie”, I was trying to take in all of my surroundings. I come from a small town where Wal*Mart is the most visited store, and your backyard was a forest extending for miles. The fast-paced city life was something I was not accustomed to. I was used to the calm life in the mountains, but I wasn’t going to let that hold me back. My first meeting was the only thing that frightened me the most. It wasn’t the teacher, or the other reporters in the room. It was the fact that I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me, and I wasn’t sure I could handle it. I know now that this was a misconception. With the help of my fellow reporters and my leader, Kim Tate, I was able to accomplish my tasks given to me. I felt more comfortable, especially knowing I wasn’t the only reporter who was attending their first year at MGA. My experience didn’t include only working all day long; I met many people from across the whole state of Virginia. There were people I had never seen from schools in towns I had never heard. Although they had come from different regions or had different backgrounds, we all seemed to connect in some way. I came here shy and timid, and I’m leaving a well-rounded person who is more outgoing. I know that words alone aren’t very persuasive to most people. I also know that not everyone is interested in politics or the government. I hadn’t thought a great deal about having an interest in either of those fields. Even after being at MGA, I am not sure I have an interest in being a politician. What I do know is that I would recommend people to join and experience the same feelings I have at MGA. Saying that I had ‘fun’ would be an understatement. I hope that anyone who gets the chance to attend MGA would take it. I’m sure that they wouldn’t be disappointed.
-Nneka

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