Pearl River Youth and Government Club Learns From Albany Trip

The Pearl River High School Youth and Governemnt club took its annual trip to the YMCA Youth and Government Conference in Albany.

Two members of the club, juniors Annmarie Heneghan and Emily Freud, shared their experiences with Patch. Heneghan also shared pictures from the trip, which are attached to this report.

The following are the words of the two students, starting with Heneghan.

My name is Annmarie Heneghan and I am junior at Pearl River High School. The Youth and Government club at school went on their annual trip to the YMCA Youth and Government Conference in Albany. This year, student wrote bills, argued cases, and wrote articles on events taking place at the conference, and worldwide.

I myself was lucky enough to attend this year's conference and I honestly had a fantastic time. In the morning, we were transported to the capitol building where we filled the seats of government officials, literally! Bill sponsors were able to present their ideas in the same building used as elected government officials. It was both an educational and eye opening experience.

At night, students were able to attend dances. Friday night being formal attire, while Saturday was casual dress code. The students of Pearl River, decided that we should dress up in one theme together. It was decided that we would dress in Saint Patrick's Day themed clothing. Students went all out, dressing with green shirts, green suspenders, shamrock face stickers, and head gear. I believe that it helped to unify us as a school and I have personally have become friends with people I never would have pictured becoming close with.

Also at the conference elections were held and Pearl River was honored to have two students elected into elite positions. Paige O'Flynn, a junior at PRHS, was elected as head lobbyist, and Emily Freud, also a junior at PRHS, was elected Editor in Chief. I honestly believe they will do a fantastic job and I am thoroughly looking forward to next years conference.

-- Annmarie Heneghan

Youth and Government is a program unlike any other group I have participated in. Travelling to Albany, you are afforded the chance to meet with a large mass of intellectual students who are all aspiring to make New York a better place. The experience of the Albany trip is a different, yet equally challenging, meeting for each delegate. 

Even year to year, the program changes, taking on new meanings to the students, for me personally this year was especially interesting in that it was my first time running for the Editor-In-Chief position.

Being a candidate this year I arrived at the Desmond Hotel a day earlier than the other delegates along with the current presiding officers and committee chairs. Upon arrival I met with the current Editor-In-Chief, Hannah Reed, and the other candidate running, Katy Delgado. In that first night, Hannah informed both Katy and I of what our role would be during the conference and what the responsibilities would be if elected as the 2012-2013 Editor-In-Chief.

The following day the delegates from all of the districts arrived, settled in and each separated to go to their respective branches meeting rooms within the Desmond. Returning once again to the press suite it was filled with this year’s writers and photographers. After introductions and icebreakers, people were assigned their articles and the room disbanded as students began to research and write articles.

Saturday and Sunday entailed all of the delegates arriving at the capitol building and each branch worked tirelessly towards a successful weekend. Sunday afternoon the delegates gathered for a final banquet with the announcement of the elected presiding officers as well as the awards that the delegates had earned through their hard work and dedication towards the program.

Overall, this weekend was extremely successful and I encourage all students interested to represent Pearl River and attend next year’s 2013 conference.

-- Emily Freud