It was all part of the California YMCA Youth in Government Model Legislature/Court program, attending the 63rd Sacramento Conference from Feb. 11-15.
Their participation was sponsored by South Coast Children’s Services, the staff of the Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival and the San Francisco Foundation TomKat Fund.
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The South Coast Children’s Services Pescadero Delegation sent the youth from the Pescadero and La Honda areas to participate as assemblymen and women, senators, press corps personnel, lobbyists, national issue commissioners and a page. They were joined by delegates from around the state, and each delegation was required to submit legislation.
The Pescadero delegation sponsored legislation on educating young people about child abuse and setting up teachers in the role of “safe havens,” said SCCS Executive Director Judy McKee.
Among the students was Pescadero High sophomore Jose Resendiz, whose role was as a lobbyist.
Involved in the similar Model U.N. program since intermediate school, Resendiz said he was interested in the program also because it provided him with opportunities to meet new people outside his immediate area.
Fellow sophomore Brenda Lopez, also active in Model U.N., took the role of an assembly member. As such, she posed pertinent questions and helped write the bill.
The bill passed in smaller preliminary committees, but did not make it past the larger Assembly, Lopez said.
But for both students, the experience passed their expectations and gave them something on which to build for their futures.
“I can apply some of the stuff I learned” when doing presentations in school, said Resendiz. “I generally feel a lot better about how I am doing in school, both grade-wise and how I get along with other people.”
Lopez, who dreams of becoming a lawyer or psychiatrist, nurtured a growing interest in the process. “The more I do it, the more I am getting out of it,” she said. “I learn more and build self-confidence. I’m not afraid to speak in front of my classmates.”
And the experience went further than that, she added.
“I encourage any student to try it. It’s fun to get out there and let your voice be heard. These bills might pass with Gov. (Arnold) Schwarzenegger. We might change California.”
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