Small Town News

Local student awarded trip to D.C.

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A Goldendale student is just back from a whirlwind tour of the nation's capital, and she got the trip the old-fashioned way--she earned it.

Elena Blomquist, a 15-year-old 10th grader, participated in a program which required an essay on leadership and why she thought she should go on the trip. The program evaluators clearly agreed with her.

"I went to a leadership camp in the beginning of summer, through Gear Up," Blomquist says. "They said there was a trip to Washington that you could write an essay for, and every school could participate. I decided that I'd write an essay and I got it."

Gear Up is a national program designed to encourage students to pursue and succeed in some form of post-secondary education. It seeks to help students focus on defining their college and career aspirations. Gear Up is grant-funded by the U. S. Department of Education and enjoys a broad-based support from communities, schools, and the private sector. Beginning with the current school year, the program is available to ninth, 10th, and 11th graders.

Blomquist's essay starts off straight to the point. "Learning about who you are is part of being a teenager," she writes. "As you explore what you have to offer, it fosters the desire to share your talents with others. This is the essence of being a leader."

"The essay was basically why you think you should go on this trip," Blomquist says. "And what you'll take from that experience, what you have planned for your future, what kind of things you're doing in school now to prepare for college, what college you plan to go to, and how this will affect you."

In her essay, Blomquist reported that her plans were to go to Brigham Young University and was uncertain at present about what she wanted for her career. She cited reasons why she should go on the trip to Washington, D. C. "I said I don't want to be a leaf just waiting for the wind to blow me around," she recalls. "I want to be in action, someone who is able to lead and just be there for anybody".

So off she went to D. C. The theme of the trip was "Future Presidents of America." She was there the third week of August, soaking in the sites and, like any good future chief executive, acquiring an appreciation for many of the best-known symbols of American life. She visited Arlington National Cemetery, several war memorials, the Smithsonian, George Washington University, the Pentagon, the FBI building, the Capitol building, and the White House.

"I really enjoyed George Washington University--it really opened my eyes and made me notice that each individual college has different things to offer," she says. "George Washington has two individual campuses, one that's smaller and has smaller classes and dorms; it's basically like a bigger high school. It's more of an adjusting spot. They also have another, larger campus where they have bigger classes, bigger everything.

They have some really cool international programs that you can do, international studies. The university was one of the best things on the trip."

Arlington National Cemetery made a particular impression on her as well. "Arlington Cemetery was probably the most inspirational to me," she says, "because it made me realize that lots of people had died for our country so we could live like this. And lots of people today are dying so that they can help other people." She was struck too by the Vietnam, Korean War, and World War II memorials. And the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum was especially fascinating to her.

As to her future, she has a plan. "Right now I plan to finish high school with, hopefully, A's and B's," she says. "Then I'll go to BYU for probably three years and then finish off at George Washington, doing international studies."

Her vision of leadership leads her to offer words of encouragement to her community. "I just have to say, find opportunities that can lead you down a right path," she says, "opportunities that can help you better yourself and help you find a way, so you know where you're going."

"This is the essence of being a leader."

Elena Blomquist, from her trip-winning essay



Copyright 2009 The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Goldendale Sentinel Goldendale, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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