Adam Dean, Callie Spencer visit National Young Leaders Conference
Special to the American
Being a young leader is why Adam Dean, a junior at Hazelwood Central High School, spent a week in Washington, D.C., just a few days before the new school year started.
Leadership is also why Callie Spencer, a senior at Hazelwood West High School, went to D.C. at the end of last month.
Dean and Spencer went to the nation’s capitol to participate in the National Young Leaders Conference, a leadership development program for high school students from across the United States. The program “provides scholars with the opportunity to interact with a variety of personnel who operate within the three branches of government, the news media and the international community.”
Both students were recommended for acceptance and participation by teachers. Dean was recommended by Tracy Jo Williams, a Spanish teacher at Hazelwood Central High. Spencer was nominated by journalism teacher, Chris Holmes.
Dean admits that he was “clueless, but excited” about what he would experience at NYLC. He had to raise money to cover the cost of the trip. His fundraising was a family affair, from selling tickets for raffles to getting donations from churches and local businesses.
“It was the best experience of my life,” he said. Before he left, he had a few ideas of what it would be like.
“I thought the program would be overly studious and the only enjoyment would be just going on the trip,” he said.
He quickly changed his mind. “It was so much fun. Everybody was like family after few days.”
Although the U.S. Congress was out of session during Dean’s program, he did meet representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo.
Dean “really enjoyed” the experience of NYLC and the opportunity to “take a leadership role and to meet and work with positive people like me. I met a lot of young leaders doing positive things, asking themselves questions like ‘What can I do in my community?’ and ‘How can I change the world?’”
As part of the NYLC experience, students participate in Model Congress. Dean served as a caucus chairperson for Model Congress. His team chose him to take the lead based on a campaign speech that he gave; afterward, his team worked hard to pass amendments focused on telecommunications and immigration. The caucus was successful. He was also able to attend a meeting of a grassroots organization that focused on the population of the country and the impact of a growing nation.
While in D.C., he visited many historical sites, including the museums of the Smithsonian, Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington Monument, an exclusive tour of the Capitol buildings, and Georgetown University.
Dean actually missed his first day of school. The morning of August 11, the last day for his NYLC session was the first day of classes in the District. He spent the morning in sessions and reviewing the conference before flying back to St. Louis.
When asked if he would recommend the experience to his classmates, he emphatically replied, “Yes,” and said “I would love to go again if I could.”
At school, Dean is involved in basketball, baseball and soccer, is co-treasurer of Student Council and is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society.
Spencer knew that she’d been nominated for the program, but was concerned about whether or not to go because of the cost and the weeks that the programs were offered. Her father made her do her research, she said.
“My parents thought it was a good opportunity,” she said. “My mom knows how much I like politics and history, so she’s supportive of this trip.”
Spencer did a lot of studying to prepare for the conference. NYLC gave pre-trip assignments and she had to choose a political leader and learn about their influence. She chose Theodore Roosevelt and read Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris. Social studies teacher Matt McClellan helped her with her research.
She kept a journal and hopes to be able to write an article for the school newspaper, the Gazette.
Spencer is the editor-in-chief of the yearbook and takes pictures at school events, as well as for the paper, and is a member of various student organizations.
Spencer also had to get ready for her trip with some shopping.
She said, “We have to dress professionally. I’m the girl who wears soccer shorts and T-shirts every day, so I needed to go shopping for clothes.”
