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Lawson, West Middle Students Go To Washington For Young Leaders Conference
A Lawson Elementary and a Hazelwood West Middle School students’ trip to the nation’s Capitol occurred months apart, but both came back with memorable experiences and insight into what it takes to become a leader.
Sixth grader Ben Mayhew attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC in November and seventh grader Myles Fountain attended over the summer. Both were in for a few surprises.
“I was expecting it to be mind-numbingly boring but it was a lot of fun because we went to the Korean War Memorial and we went to the Smithsonian and many other historical places.”
“I was really nervous, so I wasn’t expecting much, just a lot of kids and really nice people,” said Mayhew. “It was awesome. I made a lot of friends and I learned a lot.”
Among what they have learned, according to the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, is “the experience of discovering how to enhance the essential leadership skills that students already possess, and more importantly, learning how to apply those skills immediately upon their return home.”
“I think I was a little hot-headed and I learned to calm down and to solve problems” said Fountain. “We also learned how to be more organized. I also learned you have to listen to everybody’s ideas.”
The leadership traits Mayhew learned a few weeks ago at the conference are fresh on his mind.
“Communication, goal-setting, problem-solving, respect, character and teamwork,” he outlined.
When asked if he felt he had those leadership skills, Mayhew said “I have those characteristics—yes.”
DC was a tourists’ paradise for youngsters attending the conference, each returning home with lots of photos and experiences.
“Out of everything, my favorite place would be the Korean War Memorial because it was pretty cool to learn about all the different things,” said Fountain. He said the Washington Monument was a close second favorite.
Mayhew’s favorite place also holds historical significance. “Probably Harper’s Ferry, because we got to do a little reenactment of a Civil War battle there,” he said as he gleefully described his incarceration during the reenactment. “I got sent to jail because I bought my sister a squirrel puppet, and they said I was spying on them.”
