As Iron Sharpens Iron

Girls’ State: Round Three!

Now that I’m too old to be a youth participant in 4-H Conferences and Camps, Girls’ Camp, and the like, I chose the next best thing to keep me busy this summer… be on staff for Girls’ State, the program that forever changed my life. It was so fun to be able to spend time in Boise with my adopted family, catch up with friends, learn how to long board(Thanks Ryan), get called solicitors unintentionally(Still laughing Jennifer), and have dinner with the missionaries.

I was so excited for Girls’ State, I could hardly sleep that night, which you should know, for Girls’ State, is a huge problem! It was so fun to see old faces, familiar faces, and even new faces that were all there for the same reason as me, to give 215 girls the experience of a lifetime. I couldn’t wait to spend a week with amazing women whom I had grown to love so much. It was also good to see that some of the changes we had suggested the year before had been implemented to make this year even better. 

I was also excited for our theme for the year, that was, "As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Person Sharpens Another." When our Director Adrean explained what this quote meant, I knew it was just perfect for these special girls I hadn't even met yet! She mentioned that these girls are like Iron and have the opportunity to sharpen each other through their experiences, and make one another better, not by tearing them down, but by lifting them up. I thought it fit perfectly, and was a really good theme! 

The next morning, the Girls were finally arriving, and we were ready for a fantastic  week of government, laughs, plenty of inside jokes, little sleep, good food, and lots of dance parties and ice cream. My original position was Associate Journalism Staff, and I was super excited to work with Tess, the Master Journalism guru for Girls' State, and actually know what I was doing for once! It felt so good to be back, and help the new Junior Staff adjust to their roles, and bond with Governor Janice, and Senators Rachael and Hailey. 

The coolest part about the opening ceremony so to speak of Girls State, was that we actually had a nondenominational church service to reflect on God and Country, which is what the American Legion Auxiliary stands for. Our patriotic presentation is always the most inspirational part, that helps prepare us for feelings later on in the week, and leaves us reminiscent of family and our beautiful country. 

It was super exciting to get the names of our reporters, and see their bright shining faces ready to have a great experience reporting on the week. Little did I know that they would be so important to me by the end of the week, but oh my goodness, were they amazing. They worked hard, learned new things, and really took to heart the importance of their roles, and of Girls State. It made our jobs as leaders more fun and exciting as well! 

We had fantastic guest speakers who all did a really good job! It is so amazing to see empowering women who succeed in their every day lives, make an impact for good on not just the girls, but us as staff as well. I loved being able to hear of Senator Abby Lee's experiences in the Idaho Legislature, which brought me back to my own experiences as a Page. Jessica Flynn is hilarious, and is definitely one to be admired, as our Director Adrean spoke of her. I loved Senator Hailey and Rachael's take on their experiences of Girls Nation, and how neat their experience was. Governor Otter's wife, First Lady Lori Otter, gave the girls a great deal of advice, and encouragement that is applicable to everyone at this day and age. 

I should probably mention that I love having something to do. It keeps my heart happy, and give me lots of energy to keep moving forward. Because of the nature of my position, I wasn't incredibly busy during the day, which left me time to visit cities, sit in on different meetings throughout the day, and time to help others with whatever they may have needed. After we were short one staff member, I realized I wanted to do more to be of assistance and make things run smoother for everyone. I was granted permission to help out in City 9: Optimism for the rest of the week whenever I was needed or available to help out, along with my Journalism responsibilities. At first, the girls were kind of skeptical about having someone new help in their city, and they even thought that after their JC had left, that they had been abandoned by Mama Kubs as well. (She went to the store for two girls that were having a birthday). I had to reassure them that Mama Kubs was not leaving, and I was just filling in to help out. Needless to say they weren't entirely believing until Mama Kubs returned :) Once I actually had started to learn the girls names and they started getting used to having me there, it felt like I had been there all week! 

Thursday of Girls State is always one of the most memorable days for me, and for good reason too. Capitol Day is by far the coolest day. Yes we wake the girls up painfully just a little bit earlier on purpose, and yes, we take naps on crowded buses that feels like the best sleep you get all week, but it is the most rewarding day, where all of their hard work comes into play. We always sing the Girls State song around the rotunda in the Capital, and can I just tell you, those girls have the most beautiful voices! The coolest part of this year was that the House of Representatives let us use their actual floor for our session, and maybe in future years, we will get to use the Senate floor as well! We as staff had the opportunity to watch over both the Senate and House sessions, and watch the girls debate on their bills and send them on to the Governor to either be Vetoed or Signed into Girls State Law. We also had the unique opportunity to go to the Veterans Cemetery in Boise and have a special presentation and time there. We sang patriotic songs and had the opportunity to walk around and look at the different headstones and graves. It was such a special time for each of those girls to see the real meaning of freedom and love of our country. It also brought back so many feelings and reminders of my first year of Girls State, and the special feelings of gratitude and patriotism that surround me on a daily basis that I often forget about from day to day. As we were all looking around at the different names and headstones, Janessa Tolman, from City 9, approached Adrean and showed her a picture of something really cool she found on one of the headstones. As it turns out, it was our Girls State theme for the year! If that wasn't a sign that our theme was inspired, I don't know what is! The reporters also had a chance to record their sign-off video, and we got some really cool shots in Downtown Boise. 

Our last night with the girls, we had a wicked awesome talent night and the JCS and Senior Staff did a great job as well. It was crazy to believe how fast the week had gone. The reporters shared their last newscast and sign-off video, which made me tear up a little! My city girls had a crying fest and vespers and shared experiences of the week and touching moments that were right there at my heart strings. We had the opportunity to participate in a mini-inauguration for one special girl and stayed up until 4 am with her and other girls in our dorm building from other cities. I loved seeing the girls bond together to be there for each other and support one another. 

By the next afternoon, everything got really real, so to speak. I looked around at the staff members surrounding me, and realized that by the next morning, I would be leaving all these amazing people that I had gotten to know throughout the past week. I have always had a love/hate relationship with Inauguration I've decided. I love walking down the aisle and seeing the girls in their fancy dresses looking so beautiful.It never changes, since my first year at Girls State. I always get really emotional to see that our short week has come to an end, and it really is the end. At first, I was honestly worried about helping the girls off the stage because they barely knew me, but my attitude soon changed when I watched each girl hug Mama Kubs, and walk toward me, embracing me in huge hugs. They all seemed to say "Thanks for stepping up" , "Thank you for all that you did this week","You're the best!" (with tears in their eyes I might admit!) That's where I lost it. I bawled like a baby after that, and realized that was why I continued to go to Girls State each year. To give these girls the experience of a lifetime, the similar experience I had two years ago as a delegate. I had found where I wanted to be, and felt the most useful.  Those feelings seem to return every year, and never fade away. I felt like my experience was worth the tears and moments that I had a hard time or was upset. I also had an additional happiness overcome me as my nine reporters(Okay Tess has more claim of them than I do) walked across the stage as well. As we watched the girls leave either with parents or on buses, I was already anticipating next year, with more fun, and after a little more sleep of course! 

I have decided that Girls State will forever be a part of my life. This is a true statement. I often think back to 2013, the first year I was introduced to Girls State. I think back to my City Counselor, the Director, the Junior Staff I got to know who introduced me to  the Junior Staff portion of Girls State, and my city sisters and all of our experiences. I took those experiences to heart and realized that I have been changed for good because of one year in this amazing program. Girls State has been so influential in the lives of so many girls and counselors and women of Idaho, that I can't wait to continue endorsing this program for the future. I can't wait for future years, to meet more girls, and continue influencing them for good in a world that is so confusing, and hard. There truthfully are no words to describe this experience, other than you really do have to experience it for yourself. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and that's the absolute truth! 
<3 Kortni Wells

 PS! Stay tuned for the next blog post, entitled Girls State-Isms! You'll be glad you did... just saying! ;) 

If anyone would like to learn more about this amazing program, I would love to tell you more!