What did you do this summer? Go on extravagant vacations? Earn money working odd jobs? Hang out with friends every once in a while? Participate in a week-long mock government? That last one is something that only four Pembroke Hill girls can attest to. Over the summer, from June 22nd to June 29th, rising Seniors Anna McDonald (myself), Eliza Wysong, Quynh Solberg, and Camille Cranshaw attended Missouri Girls State at Lindenwood University in St. Charles Missouri, a program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary where over 700 girls ran their own mock state government for a week. The program offers a host of opportunities and a jammed pack schedule. The four Seniors had a 6:30 wake-up call each morning, and city meetings with counselors oftentimes delayed lights out until past midnight. During the day, each girl had to attend a school of instruction, wherein they would learn about a certain part of running a state government and apply that knowledge to governmental activities later in the afternoon. Missouri Girls State offers a variety of opportunities for everyone involved, such as encouraging those not interested in politics to open up businesses for the other girls to indulge in, and the Pembroke Hill girls made sure not to waste the experience. Eliza Wysong and Anna McDonald were elected to the state senate during their first full day at the program, with Anna being elected Minority Floor Leader of the Federalist party. Camille Cranshaw also had her plate full, as she was municipal judge of her city and the manager of the Girls State newspaper. Similarly, Quynh Solberg attended the program’s law school, passed the bar exam, and was involved in the State Central Committee and the Platform Committee for her political party. Overall, the Missouri Girls State schedule was so demanding that the four Pembroke girls rarely crossed paths other than during the State Fair at the tail end of the program, which is a night of fun on Lindenwood University’s football field with fair booths full of games, food, and crafts. Missouri Girls State also saw the girls living in actual college dorms, which allowed some to become incredibly close with their suitemates in a short amount of time. While some had more fun than others, Missouri Girls State was an invaluable experience that brought about new knowledge, friends, and interests, and if you’re a Junior girl looking for something to do next summer, I would definitely recommend!