2024 HSLP: Day 8

High School Leaders Program Class of 2024
Day 7: Saturday, July 20th 2024
Reported by Anusha Rathi (Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School), Mia Gamble (Osbourn Park High School), Nimera Shanil (McLean High School)

In the morning we prepped for our senate simulation with our caucus groups. Our groups were split into two, a group of 17 Democratic senators and 16 Republican senators. After our prep talk, we moved into splitting ourselves into different committees based on our bills. We then split off into our assigned committees. Within our committees, we began heatedly debating the bills that applied to our committee with the opposing caucus members.

After an intense and eventful committee session, the Sorensen scholars moved to debate some of the most highly contested bills on the floor. Both parties, the Democrats and Republicans, brought their powerful energy into the room, debating vigorously with one another to get their parties’ bills passed. From some of the contentious moments in the debate room such as Governor Karan’s vetoes on particular bills or the polarizing division among the senators, the Senate Simulation became a success that further united the UVA High School Leaders Program.

After a great day debating about our bills, we decided to end the night with all of us coming together to enjoy the movie, Inside Out 2! Throughout the movie, we laughed and cried, and as we left our theater seats, we came out more bonded than before, both as individuals and as a group.