County Teens Tackle State Issues Through Unique Contest

Across the United States, teens are taking an active role in driving policy and shaping laws important to them, proving that no one is too young to initiate change and progress. One Maryland senator recently gave Anne Arundel County youths an insider’s view to state government.

Last November, Senator Bryan Simonaire, who represents District 31, reached out to middle schools within his district and invited students to participate in a “Senator for a Day” essay contest. The annual contest is a unique opportunity to help students gain a better understanding of government and politics.

Simonaire asked participants to write a 100-word essay highlighting one issue they would want to champion if they were a Maryland state senator. Students could tackle environmental, social, judicial or fiscal issues.

The senator also encouraged students to include personal experiences and passions in their essay. “I am confident of the passion these students have at this age, and I would like to encourage their participation in the governmental process,” said Simonaire.

Each of the four middle schools in Simonaire’s district - Marley, Chesapeake Bay, George Fox and Brooklyn Park - was guaranteed a winner. The winner from each school received an official Maryland State Senate citation, an invitation to spend a day with the Simonaire in Annapolis during a legislative session on February 22, a photo opportunity on the Senate chamber floor, special seating on the Senate floor, recognition for their essay, and most importantly, a firsthand experience observing how laws are made in Annapolis and how Maryland government works.

Eighth-grader Zach Forte represented Chesapeake Bay Middle School.

“The thing that surprised me was that there are so many different senators from different districts in Maryland on the Senate floor at once,” Zach said. “During the day, the senator took me and two other winners to the Senate floor and we got to sit in on a meeting,” added Forte. “Later, we went to another meeting and they talked [about] changing a line in the Maryland state song.

“I learned that if you want to be a senator, you always need to have a degree in something else in case being a senator isn’t the right thing for you,” Zach added.

Katie Furlough is a sixth-grade student at George Fox Middle School. She said she wanted to be a senator for a day because “there are real issues that need to be noticed.”

Katie’s essay described a bill that would put trained therapy dogs in courtrooms to ease anxiety for witnesses.

“I learned that being a senator is a difficult job; it requires a lot of education and compromise,” Katie said.

King Remi, a seventh-grader, represented Marley Middle School during Senator for a Day.

“I learned that there are many senators, and every senator has their own district,” King said. “The longer you have been a senator, the more senior you become. For example, if you just started, you will sit in the back row. But when you [have been around] longer, you will sit in the front row.”

King was surprised to learn how long it takes a bill to become a law.

“I definitely want to get into politics,” said Remi. “[I want to be] the voice of the people. It takes passion to speak on behalf of people and I think I have that passion.”