SALT LAKE CITY — Brooklyn Orellana, 18, an upcoming senior at Juan Diego Catholic High School, attended Girls State June 4-9 thanks to a Catholic Woman’s League Girls State Scholarship.
It was, she said, a life-changing experience.
Girls State is a week-long experiential program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary that gives high school juniors the opportunity to assume the roles of government leaders and campaign in mock elections to become city, county and state officials.
In the program, delegates are assigned to a fictitious city and one of four counties: Democracy, Liberty, Justice and Freedom. Orellana was a Lee City resident and was voted to be the city registrar. She was also a state delegate and on the campaign committee.
Orellana, who describes herself as “super shy,” said that when she arrived on the Weber State University campus to participate in the Girls State program, she was terrified of speaking in front of people. However, as the week wore on, she became determined to get more involved and ran for all the offices she could, she said. She also approached other delegates and introduced herself to them, something she could not have imagined doing in the past, she said.
The schedule for the 300 attendees was “very packed,” with workshops and other activities from 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, Orellana said.
Along with mock elections, the Girls State delegates participate in political debates and craft legislation. They also argue mock court cases and observe a model judicial system.
Orellana enjoyed the mock Supreme Court trial.
“It was very interesting to see everyone go back and forth and how many points they made,” she said.
She was particularly impressed by the focus on veterans during the six-day event. Each day participants shared songs and stories about veterans.
“Every day they emphasized veterans and encouraged us to show pride in them and respect for them. It made us more aware and grateful what they’ve done for us,” said Orellana, whose grandfather Gregory Garner served in the Korean conflict.
“There were so many girls who had different people related to them who served in the military,” she said. “It was really cool.”
During the program, former Massachusetts governor and Utah senate-hopeful Mitt Romney spoke to the girls and left a strong impression on Orellana.
“He told us to treasure your friends and that real life is about being around your friends,” she said.
The Catholic Woman’s League Girls State Scholarship pays only a portion of the cost for the program; Orellana “washed a lot of dishes” at home to help pay for her share of the cost, she said.
The only Juan Diego CHS student to attend the program this year, Orellana said she made some lifelong friends from across the state at Girls State.
“I was surrounded by so many influential girls and leaders, I knew I was bound to find a good friend,” said Orellana, adding that she made several.
After graduating from JDCHS next year, Orellana hopes to attend the University of Portland, where she plans to study business or engineering. She is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy.
There were no applicants from Judge Memorial CHS or St Joseph CHS for the Catholic Woman’s League Girls State Scholarship this year.
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