Intern Role First Step To Capitol Hill
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Most high school students loathe the thought of classes on government and civics.
Not Rachel Labella. The new “A Capitol Experience” (ACE) intern for state Sen. Jill Tokuda’s 2010 Legislative Session couldn’t be happier with her new role in Hawaii’s state government.
The 16-year-old Castle High junior will intern with Tokuda through the end of April, visiting the Capitol an average of two to three times per week.
“I have always had an interest in politics,“said Labella,“and someday I hope to speak on behalf of young students who want to someday serve their community and state.”
Through the ACE program, she will attend meetings, track bills, write for the senator’s newsletter, help with the student arts program and do basic research for Tokuda’s office.
“We also have all of our interns look for one particular bill or set of bills and have them track them through the legislative process,” Tokuda said.“She will basically be sitting here, front row with government officials,learning how and what it takes to make the legislative process a success.”
Labella is no stranger to leadership roles. The young intern has held positions as student body president, freshman class president, Castle Complex leadership camp counselor, secondary student conference delegate and planner, and also participated in the 2009 Running Start Women’s Political Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. She also has taken an active role in her community, speaking as first runner-up for Miss Hawaii Junior Teen United States on behalf of the Janel Tupuola Spouse Abuse Foundation as well as Aloha United Way. She was even selected to join the More Than You Think Campaign to help inform students of the effects of drug and alcohol use.
Tokuda said that she is extremely pleased with her selection and happy with Labella’s performance thus far.
“Her enthusiasm and her desire to give back to her community spoke to me,and overall I just felt she’d benefit greatly from this experience,” Tokuda said.
“While here, I hope to gain knowledge of the legislative process and observe government positions so that I may too hold a government position for our state someday,” said Labella, who aspires to attend a four-year university and obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
For further information on the ACE internship program, contact Tokuda’s office at 587-7215.
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