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April 16, 2004/Nisan 25 5764, Vol. 56, No. 30
Scottsdale teens travel to Washington
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Two local teens recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to get a taste of political life in the nation's capital.
Lindsay Friefield, 17, and Jackie Shapiro, 16, both of Scottsdale, participated in the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) - a leadership development program for high school students - March 9-14. The conference "The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today" drew 400 teens from around the country.
While in Washington, the participants met with members of Congress and the Washington press corps and participated in role-play activities for each of the three branches of government.
Shapiro enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a model caucus where her group lobbied a bill about terrorism.
"It was a group of leaders who went, so we were able to have nice discussions (with) differing viewpoints," she recalls.
Friefield most enjoyed the Supreme Court simulation, in which she served as a judge.
"I'm interested in being a lawyer, so it was interesting to re-enact the entire court case," she says.
Friefield is president and Shapiro is vice president of the March of Dimes Club at Desert Mountain High School. They are also co-programming directors for Camp SWIFT, a summer camp for underprivileged children held annually at Camp Charles Pearlstein in Prescott.
"The (campers) come in with no confidence and as counselors we help build that up for them and then they leave with a sense of confidence. They leave educated, knowing they can make it in the world," Friefield explains. "It's really cool to see them grow."
Friefield is also historian of the service learning club at her school, and Shapiro is the social action vice president of Kol Ami Temple Youth.
Friefield and Shapiro are both juniors at Desert Mountain. Friefield and her parents Judy and Barry Friefield are members of Temple Solel. She also has a sister Allison, who is 20 and attends the University of Texas at Austin. Shapiro and her family, parents Linda and Fred Shapiro and sister, Lauren, 13, belong to Temple Kol Ami.
Both girls recommend that anyone who has the opportunity to participate in NYLC do so.
"My experience was wonderful," says Shapiro. "I was able to meet a lot of interesting people and get a feel for what it's like to be involved in a political lifestyle."
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