Valleywide : Teen Leaders Attend Political Boot Camp

Danny Buhler is no Newt Gingrich. Nor does the St. Genevieve High School junior emulate Patricia Schroeder.

In fact, during his six-day tenure at the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, the North Hollywood 16-year-old shunned partisan politics altogether in favor of voting his conscience and working toward compromise.

As one of eight San Fernando Valley high school students who attended the conference, Danny visited the Supreme Court, the House and Senate chambers and even met Senate Majority leader and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole on the Capitol subway.

Buhler was joined by Brandon Marsh of Canoga Park, North Hollywood High School; and Dipanwita Shah of Granada Hills and Amy Diner of Studio City, both from Cleveland Humanities Magnet High School in Reseda.

Attending sessions held earlier this fall were Jennifer Goldstein of Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Baptist High School in North Hills; Howard Fan of Canoga Park, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies; Jillian Houser of Chatsworth, Chatsworth High School; and Simona Radu of Reseda, Cleveland Humanities Magnet High School.

During a mock Congress at the most recent session, the 350 students split into political parties called the Federals and the Nationals.

Danny found many of his colleagues voting along party lines.

“I was ticked off sometimes,” Danny said. “I wasn’t going to vote on a bill because I was a National. I voted on what I believe in.”

Nonetheless, Danny said the program was a great experience--a view seconded by Amy Diner.

Amy said she was thrilled to see so many young people involved in government.

“I was already considering a career in government and this trip totally strengthened it,” she said. “Government is definitely for me.”