Student Has Newfound Respect

For National Leadership

By Larissa Lytwyn

Imagine leading the effort to mollify an urban riot or choosing how to handle an incoming terrorist threat.

Newtown High School student Jessica Yakush recently learned the full scope of such responsibility through her participation in the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in Washington, D.C.

“I don’t think most people realize how much work goes into [keeping our country safe],” said Jessica, who, in one simulation, adopted the role of Secretary of Homeland Security.

She was among approximately 400 high school students from across the country involved in the program. Eligibility was based on academic achievement and “demonstrated leadership potential.”

In addition to helping her mother teach religious education at St Rose of Lima once a week, Jessica has also served as a lifeguard and is a member of the Newtown High School Girls’ Swim Team.

“The best part of my conference experience was meeting people from all different backgrounds,” Jessica noted. “It was interesting to see how people from different parts of the country thought.”

The students divided into groups during workshops including “If I Were President,” “Testing the Constitution,” and “Model Congress.”

It was during “If I Were President” that Jessica gained new insight into government power. “We had to respond to a Middle East conflict,” she said.

Her group ultimately decided to raise the security codes and plant troops outside of the warring country’s border.

“We didn’t want to go into the [fighting] country, but try to keep it contained [for the moment],” she said.

“Testing the Constitution” allowed students to examine actual Supreme Court cases.

In “Model Congress,” students had the opportunity to adopt various roles of US representatives and debate, amend, and vote on proposed mock legislation.

In addition to the simulations, Jessica had the chance to interact with real-life government leaders and representatives.

“The whole experience was pretty much what I expected,” Jessica said. “Although it gave me new respect for the work it takes to pass legislation and make some of the decisions that take place.”

While she maintains a cursory interest in politics, Jessica’s real interest is in medicine.

“I’d love to attend Brown University [in Providence, R.I.],” she said.

For more information on the National Young Leaders Conference, visit www.cylc.org.