Virginia Girls State.
It’s been around since 1946.
From June 17-23, Sharon Day and Makayla Yuille added their names to the long list of rising high school seniors who have attended the annual event.
This year, the William Campbell Combined School students traveled to Longwood University in Farmville to learn how the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government work.
According to the Virginia Girls State website, “the week is designed to provide functional citizenship training for young women who are rising high school seniors.” The program gives them an opportunity to live together as self-governing citizens and informs them about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, so they may understand and participate in government.
“While at Girls State, participants learn the civic responsibilities they must assume when they become adults. It’s also cited as an Americanism program that stresses God and country,” the website said.
During the weeklong study of Virginia government, there are special activities and classes such as women in government, judiciary, public speaking, public service, newspaper publishing, parliamentary procedure, activism in art, chorus, band and several athletic activities.
When asked what she enjoyed about Girls State, Day said, “I think just being around other girls who are as dedicated as I am about long-term goals and just being in a supportive environment, where I am not afraid to stretch my neck out and try things I normally wouldn’t.”
While at Longwood, Day was assigned to Wilson City with 39 other girls from across the state.
During her time at Girls State, she ran for governor.
“I didn’t win, but it was a great experience of how to run for that position, and I got over my fear of speaking in front of 300 girls at a time,” she said.
Day had no intention of running for governor, but as time went on, she decided why not.
“What’s it going to hurt? It’s a great learning experience, and I can take something from it,” she said. “I am really glad I did because everyone was supportive, and I learned how to be a leader.”
Day, who took government as a freshman, will be taking advanced prep comparative politics. She said Virginia Girls State helped serve as a refresher of what she had learned as a freshman and what she will learn as a senior.
“I now have a better idea of how our government works in America and how to compare it to other governments. And to see inside our own political government, now I know how to run for office and how judges are appointed.”
During the weeklong event, Day and Yuille heard from several speakers.
For Day, she really enjoyed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s speech.
“He was different from what I thought he would be. He was very personal and relatable,” Day said. “I also enjoyed Tony Lineberry’s speech. He had lost movement from a car wreck and that was very heartfelt. Seeing him make a change and to take a bad situation and turn it around to help others was very inspiring.”
Assigned to the city of Madison, Yuille also enjoyed hearing the speech of author Nancy Reed.
“She talked about how we, as young girls, need not try to look like that person on the magazine cover, but just to be ourselves,” she said. “It was very inspirational.”
Yuille said Virginia Girls State taught her to get out of her comfort zone and become a leader. It also taught her to always try something new. She plans to adapt that to her senior year and try new experiences.
“I enjoyed meeting new people and learning about the different aspects of government on the local, state and national level,” Yuille said.
While at Girls State, she did not campaign for anything, but was elected to be a delegate to represent her city during the voting for lieutenant governor.
“I also participated in Zumba and that was really fun. It was my first time,” she said.
Day, 17, is the daughter of Robert and Karen Day of Brookneal.
She is a member of the Beta Club and Future Educators of America. She is also captain of the William Campbell High basketball cheerleaders.
Away from school, she volunteers at Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Homes.
Her future plans include attending Longwood University, where she will major in elementary education.
Yuille, 17, is the daughter of Larry and Deborah Yuille of Naruna.
At William Campbell, she is a member of the cheerleading squad and Beta Club. In the county, she participates in the Martin Luther King Jr. Choir and is a member of the youth branch of the NAACP.
Yuille plans to attend Lynchburg College or Longwood University, where she wants to major in nursing and minor in sports medicine.