Edition of April 2, 2004
HHS Students Hit Capitol Hill as Interns

By Jackie Allder
Observer Staff Writer

Kim Minnig researches different legal cases against the National Rifle Association. Allysa Miller was in the Dirksen Building when ricin was discovered. Ugo Eze attended a commercial filming at BET with Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.). Mikelyn Myers works behind the scenes of CNN's "Crossfire," greeting studio guests and organizing seating arrangements. Veeda Ranjber is helping to organize the March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C.

While a plethora of people in Washington, D.C. do similar things as those listed above, the most interesting thing about these students is that they are in high school. Minnig, Miller, Eze, Myers and Ranjber are some of the students in the political science courses at Herndon High School.

Doug Graney, one of the political science teachers, said students in the course have the opportunity to intern with a member of Congress, at a political organization or an embassy or even on a political television show.

"Kids don't really need to have any political knowledge coming into it," Graney said of the class. Students begin the course learning about politics and political organizations. After assessing their views, the students have the opportunity to list several places at which they would like to intern.

Instead of meeting for class during the second semester of the school year, the students begin their internships, generally working about eight hours per week. To keep their teachers updated on their internship status, the students post journal entries online. In their web journals, the students highlight their experiences, which range from attending a conference on Jordanian economic reform to creating posters promoting events and issues.

For example, Miller, an intern in the office of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), opened a package in which she found a powdery substance. She said the office immediately locked down, quarantining the people in the office. Health workers arrived shortly to inspect the substance, which was determined to be harmless. Kennedy later thanked the employees, including Miller, for their service during this experience.

Tiny Kanyavong, who interns with the Libertarian party, has also had a lot of interesting work to do, especially with the presidential election quickly approaching. She designs party buttons, assists with their newsletter and talks to student speakers about the party. Kanyavong might have the chance to attend their presidential election convention at which they will choose their candidate for president.

For a large number of the political science students, this internship constitutes their first office job.

"I think I've gained a sense of professionalism," Myers said of her internship at CNN's "Crossfire," noting how she learned skills on the job that she would not have learned in school.

Similarly, Larissa Deaton, who interns at the Embassy of Jordan, said she has been able to learn so much more about what she thinks about politics and about world issues. "You don't see things in black and white," Deaton said.

Although Graney said there are more liberals than conservatives in each political science class, the students in the minority are not afraid to speak out. As Minnig said, they debate the issues without making personal attacks.

Copyright © 2003 The Herndon Publishing Company