WPHS student meets President Obama

Surrounded by rich wood, golden state seals and rigid paintings of male counterparts of the past, a 17-year-old Winter Park High School senior presided over the Florida Legislature as speaker of the house for a week this summer.

Tracy Nelson was chosen to go the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State. The program, started in 1937, immerses 300 girls in each state in the everyday workings of government, from campaigning and party rallies to debating. There, she was elected speaker of the house, where she was required to keep the debates moving during mock legislative sessions.

The first girl

This was an exciting moment for WPHS, where the school has a long history of male students heading to State, but no recent record for girls. It has been at least 15 years, said Kimberly Wilkes, who was Tracy’s English teacher.

“It’s trend-setting and it’s icon-shattering,” Wilkes said. “She really just busted the doors wide open (for girls in the school).”

Tracy said she recognizes what a program like this can do for girls.

In the U.S. House, there are currently 360 men and 75 women. In the Senate, there are 17 women and 83 men. It may feel like politics isn’t an easy career to break into for a woman.

This program has given Tracy the self-assurance to reach for all her future goals, including a career in politics or international relations, she said.

“I have more confidence to pursue what I want to do in the future,” Tracy said. “I feel like, I can do this.”

“She’s grown into her own person,” said Marilyn Nelson, Tracy’s mom.

A natural leader

Not only did Tracy get to have a large leadership role in Girls State, but she was also chosen as one of two girls in Florida to head to Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., where she was elected president pro tempore of the Senate.

“I was absolutely floored,” she said of being chosen for the Nation program.

Tracy was a natural leader as president pro tempore, kept the debates moving and ruled with authority, but was also likeable and fair, said Jane Thurston, the volunteer who guided the girls during Senate sessions.

But that’s not a complete surprise. Tracy is the president of two organizations at WPHS, secretary at another and volunteered her summer to teaching children swimming in Eatonville. Her parents said they’ve never had to push her to be involved.

“She’s really self-driven,” Marilyn said.

Learning from others

Thurston said Tracy also already had a great knowledge of how government works. Tracy’s confession: She loves watching CSPAN in her spare time and during homework. Politics have always been a regular topic of discussion in her family, Tracy said. They spend time almost every day talking about current events, and she’ll bring friends over to debate politics with her parents.

But parents don’t always cut it. Tracy said her favorite part of participating — besides now having two friends from each state — was being able to discuss government and politics with young people just as passionate and informed as she is. Meeting the president wasn’t a bad moment either.

A future with the program

Now that she’s back, she is going to use the knowledge and leadership experience she gained at her post as president of the Model United Nations club, as well as the scholarship and networking opportunities the program has given her. She hopes that in the future, if her career is related, she’ll be able to come back to the program and mentor the next generation of girls. Thurston is confident Tracy will be able to achieve that goal.

“I foresee Tracy finding a future in this,” she said.

And her family knows whatever she does, politics or not, she will help others.

“She’ll make the world a better place,” said Drew Nelson, her father.

Learn more

For more information about American Legion Auxiliary Girls State, visit www.boysandgirlsstate.org