Girls State: My Experience
"Are YOU from Girls State?"
What is Girls State? Girls State is a program where junior high school girls are competitively selected and sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) units to learn about the political process of state government and participate in running one. Residing in California, I was one of 421 junior girls who were chosen to attend this program -- about 1%. Needless to say, it was definitely an experience and an opportunity where I was able to come back home learning something.
When I first applied for the program, I had a basic understanding of what it was but I figured I would learn everything I needed to know once I got there. This approach, though a bit unconventional, allowed me to dive into the program with an open mind, but also had me walk into this experience "blinded". Prior to the program, I was required to create a bill that amends a current piece of California legislation. I chose to write about the CA Penal Code 1170 and 1001.5, addressing both mandatory minimum sentencing and rehabilitation services in our legal system. Though unsure of what it was for, it was fun to create. I also had the opportunity to take the ALA Girls State Bar of California exam before the start of the program which was quite exciting; I had no understanding of the process, but I went along with it in hopes of becoming a "lawyer"!
A few days later, my Girls State journey began.
On June 25, 2024 (Monday) I arrived at my bus stop at 12:55 am to leave for Sacramento -- yes, 12:55 am. Being one of 100 girls on the bus, we drove for eight-hours with around 1-2 additional stops on the way. Luckily, I happen to not recall anything on the bus as I, quite impressively, managed to fall asleep the second I sat in my seat. And next thing I knew, I groggily woke up from almost falling atop my bus partner and saw my home for the next six days: Sacramento State University.
The registration didn't take too long -- around 30 minutes -- which is generous compared to the hour(s) other delegates had to wait for. I muttered my thanks that I had gotten there early. I settled in my dorm room, and met my roommate, Abriah, who is an amazing and intelligent woman. She spoke with maturity, and elegance; it served as a reminder to me that every girl here was chosen. Little did I know that she was the first of many girls I would meet who would "blow my mind".
My city, Asawa, was the largest city in Girls State. Inspired by Ruth Aiko Asawa, our city thrived on diverse perspectives and a collaborative spirit that fostered leadership. However, when I first met my girls, I found myself shy and speaking sparingly. For some odd reason, I couldn't muster the confidence to engage fully with them. They were all so well-spoken that it slightly overwhelmed me.
At Girls State, there is not a moment to waste. Each second of the day, delegates are engaged in some sort of activity. From 7:20 am to 10:30 we are out of our dorms (except the 45 minutes of rest allotted to us). Truthfully, I have never felt this physically nor mentally exhausted, but the exhaustion was worth it. During this week, I felt proud to be a woman every second. The constant cheering (while I felt uncomfortable at first), became normal to me after a few days. "Hyping" other girls up made me feel strong. So here, I learned the beauty of empowerment: it all starts with ourselves.
Now, the moment all delegates (probably) were waiting for: elected and/or appointed positions. Having a chance to participate in a mock government meant that there were positions at the city, county, and state level. Each one has its own significant value, yet a delegate's audience and influence increases as they move up the levels of government. The state positions are elected by a majority vote across the 421 delegates (which can be daunting)!! In fact, in the beginning of the program, I remember I told Abriah that I would not be running for any state elected positions, simply because I had "never run or campaigned for anything before". So, I abandoned my goals of running for Governor or Supreme Court Justice and decided to explore other career paths. I kept thinking "Who was I -- someone who never ran/campaigned before -- to try achieve one of the highest positions?" In retrospect, I wish I did not let such thought prevent me from doing so.
With limited positions and hundreds of delegates, I chose to maximize my chances at getting an opportunity to participate in this mock government -- not as a citizen, but as an official. So, I chose to run for the District Attorney in my county. Each one of the four counties in ALA Girls State California hosts one mock trial towards the end of the program. As a debater, it was natural for me to be interested in such a role, so I sought to run for the position and gave my speech to my county. Honestly, this part made me so nervous that I found it exhilarating. Giving a speech to about 100 girls and surprising them with my ability to use effective rhetoric was definitely a confidence booster. And to my luck, I won.
Truthfully, even through my successes, I cried on the first few days. Not because I was homesick, but rather because I was tired of pushing myself so hard. Burnout is serious! I remember telling myself that I cannot let Abriah see me cry. I wanted to make the most out of my experience, but I felt like I couldn't. I dreamed of my successes, but felt like they wouldn't come to me. Maybe because I felt like I could have pushed myself harder to be Governor, or even a candidate for Girls Nation. But I didn't even try. Although, while writing this, I wish I could go back to my old self and tell her that she is stronger than she knows, and there is a plan set for her.
A few days later, my mock trial began. With two days to prep (about 1-2 hours each day), we killed it! The case was about the musical "Heathers" and the whether the defendant's actions can be considered as cyberbullying. With a unanimous vote from the jury, the prosecution won. The entire mock trial was scripted for our county to watch (except the attorneys' statements and the jury's decision). Our witnesses were absolutely wonderful, using their theatre skills to perform. Also, shoutout to Grace Jeon for being willing to be escorted out by the bailiff in a scripted scene in the audience; all the girls really enjoyed that moment. Needless to say, our performance in this trial was one of the biggest reasons why I ended my experience on a positive note.
I want to extend my thanks to my Asawa girls, who always cheered for me (and others). Their applause, even from those I had never spoken to, made me proud of myself. I regret not talking to some of them until the end of the program because I missed out on spending more time with such marvelous women. In the future, I will hold myself accountable to learn everyone's names on the first day and to engage with them from the start. However, meeting new ambitious and talented women, and getting out of my comfort zone helped me reached new heights and realizations that inspired me to reach my fullest potential when I got back home.
On the last day, I passed out my handbook so that all the girls in my city could sign it. Honestly, I was super hesitant at first to do so. I kept thinking in my mind: "You have barely talked to each. What could they possibly write about you? You should probably take back your book to save yourself from getting humbled by the little words they write". But I forgot: this is Girls State!! There is no such thing as "little words." And when I left for my bus, my handbook was full with words of love, encouragement, and support.
I would say that my biggest regret is not going into the program with more ambition. Not that I didn't have ambition already, but more so trying to push myself out there even more. So, If I were to go back in time, I would run for the highest positions with an ambition. To my past self who felt hopeless or questioning why they were present at this camp, I'm glad we realized that the Girls State experience is what we make of it.
I would also like to thank Abriah for this realization. She helped me see that I didn't necessarily need experience or be super extroverted in order to get elected as one of seven Supreme Court Justices. Being the calm, reserved, and composed person she is, she received the highest amount of votes (without any campaigning)! I'm super proud of her, and promise that the next time we see each other, we'll both be Justices.
To my girls:
Thank you for this experience! You have helped me realize that I am so much more than I believe. In the future, I promise I will uphold our Asawa name, and carry forward the lessons of empowerment and collaboration that you have taught me. I can't wait to see what all of you do in your futures. Our country is lucky to have girls like us.
So, one last time: Are YOU from Girls State?
With love,
Olivia Cha
