Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Fayette student spends summer on Capitol Hill

By HALEIGH M. BREEST
Special to The Citizen

This summer I was honored to represent our community as a page in the 107th Congress of the United States. The 200-yeard-old House Page Program is staffed by 16- and 17-year-olds from across our country. Their representatives and the Speaker of the House select pages.

Thanks to our representative, Mac Collins of the Third District, I was given a unique opportunity to see our government at work up close with history all around me. Working on the House floor, I was very impressed by the two larger-than-life portraits looking down on the Chamber. On the left is the instantly recognizable portrait of General Washington, and on the right the portrait of General Lafayette, for whom our community is named.

As a page it was my job, among others, to deliver mail throughout the Capitol complex and to assist members with their requests on the House floor. The experience and interaction with our leaders, however brief, provided me with insights and motivation that will last a lifetime.

I was able to meet many members of Congress in addition to Rep. Collins, including both our our senators, Max Cleland and Zell Miller. My impression of our Georgia representatives was one of pride. They are hard-working, dedicated leaders doing their very best to represent us on many important issues.

Although I did not see President Bush, I did see Vice President Cheney on a few occasions. Once was at a rare joint session of Congress where the prime minister of Australia spoke. Prime Minister Moorston spoke on the friendship of our country, saying, "Americans have no better friend in the world than Australia." The friendly prime minister shook my hand on his way out of the House chamber.

What I learned most from my experience is the importance of voting for the leaders we want to represent us. Every day Congress is in session, members vote on a wide range of issues that affect the way we live. This election year is especially important because both the House and the Senate are separated by a very small margin between parties just six seats in the House and one in the Senate. So I hope those old enough exercise their right to vote.

My page experiences strengthened my partriotic belief so I am looking forward to my voting responsibility and staying connected to D.C. as I get older. Coming from Fayette, I think the General would expect nothing less.

(Haleigh M. Breest is a student at Fayette County High School.)