Student Learns the Ways of Washington

Nogales High School junior Gilbert Velasquez wants to be an aeronautical engineer, not a congressman, but he recently got to see what it’s like to make decisions that influence the nation.

Velasquez of West Covina was one of about 225 high school students from around the country who attended the six-day Congressional Youth Leadership Conference in Washington last month.

The students met with members of Congress and their staffs, journalists, and lobbyists. The high point of the conference was a mock Congress in which the students debated, lobbied and voted on the proposed volunteer service legislation.

“It was an opportunity of a lifetime, and it made you want to do more in public service,” Velasquez said.

Velasquez, 16, who is interested in golf, band and the science club at his school, said he went to the conference mainly to see Washington but now wants to be more involved.

Velasquez is taking his experience back to his school by starting a drive to get more 18-year-olds to register to vote.

The conference is sponsored by the National Youth Leadership Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group. The council sends high school juniors and seniors to Washington every two weeks.

Oscar Cabrera, a senior at Claremont’s Webb School, and Karissa Reese, a senior at Imperial High School in Pasadena, attended conferences earlier this month.