CONA Delegation Profiles 2019: Irene Thornton

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Irene Thornton is going to be studying Political Science with a double minor in Spanish and Leadership at Christopher Newport University in the fall. This is going to be her first year at CONA, though it was her second year at MGA. Her proposal, Proposal #206 in Committee L, allows prisoners on death row the opportunity to donate their organs as one last act of redemption before their step into eternal slumber. As of right now, there are over a hundred thousand individuals on the organ waitlist and her proposal could help better the lives of some of those people in need. Irene, like most, is excited to meet all the delegates from around the country as well as to listen to and debate their varying proposals. Irene believes programs such as MGA and CONA are important because they allow young citizens to become involved with politics which allows them the opportunity to become aware of what’s going on within our nation as well as our world. When asked what her “life movie” would be called, Irene responded: “A Clean Mess.” A title that grows more relatable the more it’s expanded upon. At first glance, it may seem like Irene’s life is a little chaotic, one might even go as far as to say “messy.” However, everything is still in it’s perfect spot, it just happens that other things happen to occupy the same places sometimes. And that’s okay. She described it as having that drawer in the kitchen where every miscellaneous kitchen utensil is thrown in there haphazardly (you know the one), yet you still know perfectly well where everything is. Ultimately, life is beautiful medley of elements that blend together and it isn’t about trying to separate it all into their own “spot” but rather the important thing is becoming comfortable and accepting life the way it comes, and for Irene, it happens to come in a perfectly “clean mess.”

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