In my busy five days that I spent in Ottawa, I was immersed in the fast paced life of the political representatives of our country. Most of the time was spent doing election and political simulations, visiting and touring the parliament buildings, and listening to presentations from successful individuals who were willing to share some of their knowledge with our group. Before going to Ottawa, I had no way of predicting what kind of people I was going to spend nearly the next week with. Once I arrived, I found myself surrounded with young individuals who were all very passionate about their political views or wanted to pursue a career in the field. I decided on attending Forum as a way to get to experience new things that aren’t available in my area, and after returning, I feel extremely rewarded for the opportunity that I was able to experience.
My time in Ottawa was hectic and tiring, yet educational and rewarding. I’d like to say that everything I learned at Forum directly came from all the government representatives that we were extremely lucky to have shared time with; however I also was quite impressed by how engaged, motivated, and determined my fellow participants were. I was among a group of young people that could speak extremely intelligently about their political beliefs and values, and it gives me great confidence that there are many individuals around my age that are so interested in the political future of our country. This program would be extremely rewarding for anyone who is considering a career in politics, as it takes you through essentially all the major highlights, and drawbacks, of being a politician. There were also many students in attendance that weren’t looking towards politics for a career, but they still saw Forum as a very interesting experience that provided them with a stronger understanding and outlook on the political systems of Canada. Overall, Forum is a great experience for all students who are looking to gain many new skills and participate in different activities that they may never get the opportunity to do again.
I would like to thank the following organizations and individuals who sponsored me to attended the Forum in Ottawa: Parkland Community Futures, H.O.P.E Club, Gilbert Plains Parent Advisory Council, Gilbert Plains Municipality, Love & Perrson Group, Brad Michaleski, and Brenda Tycholes.
