Each year, girls who have completed their junior year of high school can apply to their local American Legion Auxiliary to attend “Girls’ State.” The program is designed to teach youth about the United States political process by doing the political process. This project began as a dream of 4 women over 75 years ago.
Edie Oliver and Chloe Goergen were the two student selected from South O’Brien to attend the June 2023 Girls’ State held at Drake University. Both young ladies shared their experience to the Paullina American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members on Tuesday October 3.
Edie spoke first. Her first comment was how the program made her move out of her comfort zone. She expressed appreciation for that effect while also describing herself as a “theater kid,” not concerned about being on stage. She described the experience as, “the greatest experience of my life,” “it pushed me,” and “thrilling.”
Chloe started looking back at the program recognizing that the environment was very different that her normal life and that her expectations were very different. She noted that it was really fun. Chloe described her roommate, the party she was assigned to, which was different from her roommate. Chloe explained their different parties left them very little time to be together. She earned an office while at the same time learning that friends helped her cope with defeats. “It was a very moving experience for me. I was able to just put myself out there and find new parts of myself, and just really be myself.”
The pair gave their audience a treat singing the “Hawkeye Girls’ State” theme song and Edie shared a poem she wrote.
The weeklong submersion into U.S. political system learning began with a fictional, 2-county state with 2 cities and 2 political parties. The girls were divided into political parties and communities and ran for various levels of office throughout the various levels of government, local, county and state. They were assigned to rooms. These two were not paired and both admitted to that being a bit unnerving, but part of their growth experience.
All of the attendees were given an overview of the structure of the government of this fictional state and the offices that needed to be filled for this government to function. The duties of the offices were also explained. Each participant could run for as many or as few offices as they wished, but if they were an election official, they could not take any office. That makes sense. According to Chloe, “that seemed boring.”
Both girls won several positions, not at the state level. Both came way with a strong sense of bonding with the other girls they shared a week with competing, collaborating and realigning their interests to the needs of the “government.”
Exposure to real government included a tour of the state capital. They also experienced for the first time, an official flag disposal ceremony.
Both Chloe and Edie highly recommend Girls’ State. Chloe commented she’d like to promote it more. The Paullina American Legion has historically also sent 2 boys, but none have been recruited for some time.