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August 3, 2001/Av 14, 5761, Vol. 53, No.43
Young man sees future in Washington
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Brian Schon sees politics in his future.
The 18-year-old Central High School senior recently traveled from his Phoenix home to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC), June 17-27.
The conference, run by The Congressional Youth Leadership Council, brings together 350 high school students who have been identified as leaders by faculty at their high school. In addition to attending lectures and panel discussions, students participated in simulations of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the government.
Schon found the presidential cabinet simulation the most enjoyable. The simulation "gives you more of a realization that the president isn't the only one running the country," he explains. "He has many, many advisors who are able to give their point of view."
The group stayed at the National 4-H Center, a professional conference center in Chevy Chase, Md. Schon says he made "tons" of friends from around the country and has plans to visit with his roommate from the conference, who lives in California.
School counselors and teachers select conference participants based on grade point average, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and an interest in politics, Schon explains.
Schon is a varsity debater and has traveled to debate camps for the last three years, including a trip to Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., last summer. He has been invited to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law, also held in Washington, this November.
In addition to attaining a grade point average of 4.7, Schon keeps busy participating in mock trials, student congress and speech. He is about to begin his second year on the Central High School varsity baseball team.
Looking toward college, he hopes to attend Yale or to receive the Flinn Scholarship which provides full tuition for four years at an Arizona university, along with opportunities to travel abroad.
His current aspirations are to study law, and he says he "definitely" plans to go into politics.
Schon lives in Phoenix with his parents Esther and Donald. He has two older brothers, Michael, 23, and Keith, 26. The family is affiliated with Temple Chai. Additionally, Schon participates in United Synagogue Youth and Hebrew High, a Jewish educational program run by the Bureau of Jewish Education.
Schon recommends that people try to get their schools involved in programs like NYLC, and says that any student who has the opportunity should take advantage of it.
"The people you meet and the experience you get on the Washington front are ones that you will rarely have another chance to do."
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