SPRINGFIELD, ILL – Last week, Illinois State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) welcomed approximately 30 high school students from across the 58th Senate District to the Illinois State Capitol as part of her Youth Advisory Council (YAC) program. This hands-on experience provided students with an in-depth look at government, public service, and the legislative process.
Students had the opportunity to tour the Capitol, visit the Senate chamber, and learn about the inner workings of state government. They also heard from lobbyists and policy experts about how legislation is shaped before taking part in their own mock committee debate.
“I’m really glad that these young people got to see the excitement of a session and how the sausage is made,” said Senator Bryant. “We also had some lobbyists come in and talk to them about the concepts of the bill that they wanted to propose, and so they then had the opportunity to debate that with each other.”
Senator Bryant noted that the wide geographic reach of the students made for engaging discussions and diverse perspectives throughout the day.
“These students are from all over the district, the 58th District stretches from Missouri to Indiana,” said Senator Bryant. “The diversity of thought has been very encouraging, and they’ve been respectful to each other and everyone they’ve come in contact with, so I have been proud of how they’ve conducted themselves throughout the day.”
For many students, the event was a rare opportunity to experience government in action and gain insights beyond what they learned in the classroom.
“It’s been a dream of mine to be a politician for quite a while,” said Sparta High School Student Hannah Stine. “This was a very unique opportunity, and I was very happy to learn about the ways our government works. Particularly learning about how lobbyists do their jobs was interesting, because that is something that we don’t get to learn about as much in the classroom.”
“I think it’s important for us to know how our government works because we’re the ones who’ll be voting someday,” said Carmi High School Student Katelyn Davis. “I think today is great because we need to be able to comprehend how to read legislation and know how the process works in order to be more involved.”
Students also learned that citizen engagement is a critical part of the democratic process.
“I’ve learned that it’s okay to call your senators, it’s okay to call your representatives, and it’s okay to let them know your concerns,” said Red Bud High School Student Jace Knight. “I’ve learned that it’s very important to close the gap between you and your local representative.”
“The Capitol was extremely busy today. There were a lot of lobbyists and groups advocating for what they want,” said Fairfield Community High School Student Grady Simpson. “It was interesting to see how they’re lobbying and how that process actually plays out in real life.”
Senator Bryant’s Youth Advisory Council provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with state government and develop a deeper understanding of how laws are made. The program is open to high school students across the 58th Senate District, and those interested in participating in future events are encouraged to contact their principal or superintendent for more information.