Q&A: Local shares experience as part of Girls Nation

Nichole Washburn is preparing for her senior year at Portales High School. But right now, she’s a little busy being Sen. Washburn.

Washburn is currently in Washington, D.C., as part of Girls Nation, an American Legion Auxiliary program that gives high school girls a hands-on experience into how government works at local, county, state and federal levels. It is a partner program with Boys Nation offered by the American Legion. Both programs run through Saturday.

The candidate pool for Girls Nation is first created at high schools in all 50 states where girls are encouraged to apply for their respective Girls State. The New Mexico version was held the first week of June on the campus of Eastern New Mexico University.

Elected as senators were Washburn and Gracie Marquez of Albuquerque. Washburn spoke by phone with The News to give her experience so far and look forward:

How did you first hear about Girls State at the local level?

We have a teacher in the media program at Portales High School that encourages juniors to go for Girls State and Boys State.

What piqued your interest?

I wanted to learn more about our government and how to be more active in our government.

The state conference was held at ENMU, which makes it easy for you to attend. Did that impact you in any other way, i.e. helping other participants find their way around?

I enjoyed getting to be on the ENMU campus, as I intend to look into going there. As a bonus, the president and his wife came to the event.

What’s the overall process of Girls State?

They assign you (into a fictional community). You go through the elections they go through. We had a mayor, a chief of police. Then you go into counties. You run for things by delivering speeches.

The path I went was an application process. You apply to run for senator, which means you go to Girls Nation. You go to your first interview with your counselor and your senior counselor. They pick two from each community. There are eight girls, which is narrowed down to six. Then there is a press conference, where the media asks you questions. Then you give a speech, and two are elected from those six. I spoke about the pink tax. It’s a popular women’s issue with the taxation of women’s hygiene products.

What was your initial reaction when you were elected?

I was very surprised. I was running against really intelligent girls, and one of them had already won governor. I thought the same thing would happen. It was very non-cliquish, which isn’t what you always expect from high school girls. They voted for the candidate who would represent them the best. I was overjoyed.

What has the experience been like so far?

It’s been wonderful. I’ve learned a lot about the Senate and committees. So far, we’ve visited Arlington National Cemetery and watched the change of the guard, and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was a very humbling experience.

What are you looking forward to the most over the next week?

On Thursday, we are going to Capitol Hill. I’m excited to meet my senator (Martin Heinrich). I’m excited to go to the Library of Congress.

What’s the biggest thing you felt you’ve learned so far?

Honestly, I feel like I’ve learned a lesson in diversity and how important it is to work with people across your party, people who don’t necessarily believe what you do, to get things accomplished.

How do you think this experience will impact your senior year?

I think I’m going to look into different fields of study I hadn’t looked into previously. I’m looking more at political law than I had before. I had considered law, but not considered doing something political.

What are your post-PHS plans?

I’ve thought about ENMU because I can stay with my family and go for almost nothing with scholarships. But I’ve gotten some scouting letters from Ivy League schools, so I’m looking at applying. IF I can get in, I’ll probably go to Harvard or Stanford.