Whiz Kid of the Week: Political Journalist Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks

Whiz Kids is a weekly feature in which Patch profiles an outstanding youngster or youth group. This week's Whiz Kid is Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, who is awesome because she might just be the next great political reporter.

Whiz Kid: Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks (Alex)

Age: 14

School: Hoboken High School, 9th Grade

"I've always been interested in politics, ever since I was young," Hoboken High freshman Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks said while discussing her recent participation in Harvard University's annual Model Congress Conference.

Students who attend the conference portray an actual member of Congress in a simulated legislative session where they propose and debate bills. Alex played the role of Democratic Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, and she performed so well that along with her classmate she was one of two Hoboken High students to win an Excellence Award.

Alex, who credits her parents for inspiring her early interest in politics, prepared with the rest of the Hoboken High Model Congress Club by meeting several times per week during their school lunch hour. Knowing that she would shadow a Democrat during the conference, Alex challenged herself by also studying opposing Republican positions so that she would have a total understanding of the debate.

Like Senator Webb she served on the Committee of Environment and Public Works and helped pass bills on preventing deforestation and improving clean air standards. Alex, who also participates in her school's theater program and is very friendly, said she enjoyed the conference atmosphere and spending time debating with her peers.

'The best part was seeing everyone excited about the topics," she said.

Like many other members of her generation, Alex says she feels inspired to make a positive contribution to her community.

"I like the idea of making change," she said. "Anything that affects the future and society gets me motivated."

Since Alex is a freshman, college is still a long way off and she hasn't really thought much about which one she'd like to attend, but she is interested in potentially studying journalism.

"I really like to write," she said.

Journalism might be the perfect role for her to continue a lifelong engagement with political issues and their effect on the community.

"Getting people's perspectives on the change that's happening around them is very interesting to me," she said.

Do you know a Whiz Kid, or even a whole group of them? Send any and all nominations to alanskontra@hotmail.com, and check back every Wednesday afternoon to read about some outstanding youngsters in your community.