Floyd senior chosen for national youth program

A Floyd High School senior was one of two New Mexico high school students chosen to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program.

Eli Terry, 17, will virtually participate in Washington Week scheduled March 14-17, a week in which American youth increase their "understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision-making," according to a USSYP press release.

Terry, who is vice president of his class, a member of the National Honor Society, and serves multiple student organizations, will also receive a $10,000 scholarship for college. He will already have 21 college credits by the time he graduates high school, and he plans to attend Eastern New Mexico University to study communication disorders.

"Eli has spent many hours working on scholarship applications and writing essays to ensure his future college goals. He made the USSYP scholarship one of his top goals," said Terry's father, Damon Terry.

Eli Terry answered questions from The Eastern New Mexico News:

Tell me a little about the process for this. Did you have to apply or does someone else recommend you for the program?

I was told by my principal at my school about this. Initially, you apply and write an essay when you apply. The essay was about the Youth Senate Program and how it positively impacts society. It is an annual scholarship competition sponsored by the U.S. Senate and the Hearst Foundations. They get the top five students in their states who are interested in a possible career in government in the future, and they test and interview them, and they pick the top two out of the top five to represent the state.

What was your reaction when you got the news that you were one of the two New Mexico high school students chosen for this program?

I was so excited. I am going to be able to meet my U.S. senators for New Mexico and talk to them on a phone call or on Zoom, and that's going to be really cool. And to get to have a virtual Washington Week. I'm excited about all of it.

Do you feel a little disappointed that the event will be virtual due to the pandemic?

Yes, I do feel like I'm missing out on that trip to Washington. I've actually missed out on three Washington scholarship trips this year, so I'm used to it now, but it's still a little frustrating. But considering the circumstances, I understand.

What do you think makes you a good student leader?

I'm involved in several different organizations. As a student in my class, it is a "lead by example" type of thing by getting good grades - I have a 4.2 GPA - working hard, and doing little things in class like respecting your teachers and peers and following the rules.

I'm a people person as well. For example, I am in 4-H, and I am able to talk to younger people in my club and be a light to them and show them what I've done wrong and right. I understand how to be a leader in different areas, because I'm not going to be the same leader in my 4-H club as I am as class president. I change my leadership roles according to the setting.

What are you most excited about in regard to participating in this?

I'm definitely most excited about meeting my senators. I think that will be so cool. I am excited about Washington Week in general. Even though it's virtual, I'm still really excited about it. I'm also excited to see how our government works from behind the scenes and not just from the media perspective.

Are you interested in a career in government or politics? What started that interest?

I would like to be a speech language pathologist in the future, but that is also in the same category as education, and if I did go into government, I would want to push for education reform.

How so?

I am interested in eventually affecting education on a political level, fighting for legislation and reform for struggling students.

There's this study - there's about one in five people who are dyslexic. I know the education system is set up to help people with dyslexia, but it could do better. The reason I say this is because I've learned this firsthand.

My little brother is dyslexic, and we didn't learn that he was dyslexic until he was in the fifth grade. I'm not saying I know how to do this better than the people who are doing it now, but I'm definitely saying I could try.

That's something that almost one in five people deal with, and there is not as much attention given to it as I think there should be. That is not the only education reform I would like to see, but it is the one I'm most passionate about, which is why I want to go into speech language pathology and help kids with speech disorders and learning disabilities.