By Ashley Cohen
Staff Writer
Junior Talia McLaughlin’s interest in California’s state government has been the driving force behind her participation in the California YMCA Youth & Government’s Model Legislature & Court for the past two years.
ML/C has been California’s premier youth leadership and civic development program since 1948. It provides a sixth month first-hand government experience where high school students learn how to solve community problems through the democratic process as well as debate and discuss other issues with their peers.
“This program has made me a more confident speaker and has given me leadership roles and experience I would not have been able to find anywhere else,” McLaughlin said.
According to McLaughlin, she volunteered at a YMCA day camp where a participant encouraged her to join the program. She has been a member of the ML/C since her sophomore year and has encouraged other Costa students, like junior Eve Le Neveu, to join the program as well.
“I went to one meeting with Talia and instantly fell in love with the program, its concept, and the people in it,” Le Neveu said. “She is the most dedicated person I know and is always the first to ask me to help out with fundraisers and other events.”
The 2014-15 program starts in September when 2,400 students are recruited from 150 high schools in California. Delegations are formed through 90 local YMCAs. McLaughlin’s delegation group meets in Westchester where they create bills based on issues they see in their community which will later be debated on by the Senate or Assembly at the Sacramento conference.
“She is extremely organized and optimistic at all of our meetings,” group president Kathleen Ramey said. “She gets things done flawlessly and quickly.”
Last year, at a conference in Sacramento, McLaughlin participated as a lobbyist and argued for and against bills in her committee. She then transitioned into a joint session with other youth senators and assemblymen where they debated and were engaged in a question and answer session with California’s State Constitutional Officers.
“I think the program has been really great for Talia because it has encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and stand up for what she believes in,” Le Neveu said. “Everyone at our delegation supports each other which gives Talia the opportunity for her voice to be heard.”
Next year, McLaughlin will be the clerk for her delegation in Westchester. She is planning on applying to be either a lead lobbyist or a governor’s lobbyist for the three annual conferences.
“I hope I can become more comfortable with public speaking and presenting in front of a large crowd,” McLaughlin said. “I also want to be able to establish relationships with people from all over the state through the ML/C.”
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