A WEEK SERViNG AT THE OKLAHOMA CAPiTOL

BY HAYDEN HECKENKEMPER

monday,

apriL 10, 2023:

After arriving Sunday evening in Oklahoma City and after a short introduction to my week ahead, I woke up early, put on my suit and tie, and drove to the Oklahoma State Capitol building alongside 14 other Oklahoma juniors and seniors.

Our task: serve as High School Pages for the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

After an unofficial tour of the Capitol, consisting of each place we, as pages, would need to go, we had an official Capitol art tour that showed and explained the numerous pieces of art that cover the inside of the Oklahoma Capitol.

So, what is a page? Each week of Congress’ Legislative Session (late February to late May), high school students are sponsored by a State Representative to come to help them for a week. Page Week is busy with activities, from attending committee meetings to delivering paperwork to another Representative’s office. Most notably, high school pages sit in on the daily general session and help keep messages and information flowing from outside the session (only Representatives are allowed inside), with lobbyists and legislative assistants, to the Representatives themselves.

I was sponsored by Representative Suzanne Schreiber of Oklahoma House District 70, which happens to be Bishop Kelley’s district!

I attended her meetings for banking, financial services, and pensions. I’m not an expert in those fields and watching the process occur in real time was exciting and new. For the remainder of the day, I walked around the Capitol’s East Wing, where the House of Representatives is based, and delivered notes to various offices.

Tuesday, apriL 11, 2023: Today was a busy and rare day at the State Capitol.

Congress had joint session between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Along with an introductory speech by Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, Governor Kevin Stitt gave a speech. Joint Session isn’t typical at the Capitol - usually, there are three each year - so I’m lucky to have experienced such a moment.

It was also Capitol Agriculture Day! Each year, the Capitol hosts days dedicated to different industries and events or to raise awareness about various topics. Different corporations, shops, and non-profits will set up booths on the Capitol’s 2nd floor to encourage conversations and spread information about the day’s topic. wednesday, apriL 12, 2023: Just like yesterday, today was a special day at the Capitol: Innovation Day!

Agriculture Day was busy, as agriculture is vital to most Oklahomans. Student groups from across the state, companies, and lobbyists for agricultural issues swarmed the area to discuss the topic of the day. Some booths even had food and small souvenirs to take home.

I spent my day walking around the booths and helping my Representative with whatever was necessary. It was a successful and exciting day!

Numerous booths were set up by technology start-ups from across Oklahoma. It is inspiring to speak with company representatives and founders to hear how their innovation helps industries across Oklahoma and how they help tackle problems in their communities using technology.

The pages had the opportunity to eat with some State Representatives for lunch. One of these Representatives was Clay Staires of Skiatook. When he asked where I attended high school, he quickly mentioned that he taught in the Bishop Kelley science department for two years in the late 2000s. It was ironic and amusing that of all places I could’ve met a former Bishop Kelley teacher, it was at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

My morning was spent participating in a mock debate on the House floor with the other pages. The bill I presented passed! It was a fun experience and a rewarding job well done. The rest of my day was filled with constant runs to the Capitol mail room while ending my last night with a scavenger hunt at the Oklahoma History Museum and a dinner at Charleston’s.

Thursday, apriL 13, 2023: Capitol Autism Day, featuring various businesses and non-profits serving people on the autism spectrum. In talks with people I encountered, I was able to speak about my experience as part of Bishop Kelley’s Peer Mentor Program, which aids students with all ability levels in school, ultimately making for a more inclusive environment. It was essential to realize that inclusive

Participating in our Mock Debate on the House Floor. education opportunities don’t exist in every part of the state or country, which is why it’s so rewarding to be a part of this program at Bishop Kelley.

Thursdays are the last day of work each week for Representatives. At the final General Session, the Pages were introduced one by one by their name, district, and future plans after graduating high school. Each time someone mentioned they were attending Oklahoma State University or The University of Oklahoma, they had supporters in the crowd quick to shout, “Boomer Sooner!” or “Go Pokes!”

It was my last day, so I walked out of the Capitol and said goodbye to a week to remember and the eye-opening experience of seeing the legislative process first-hand. Hearing from representatives of all political backgrounds and opin ions was great, seeing as it’s not every day that you can meet them personally.

I learned that the legislature is more bipartisan than most people think. More than one Representative told me that at least 90% of decisions are bipartisan. Ultimately, you might not respect the person or their opinions, but you must respect their office. Juniors and seniors, take advantage of this great opportunity!

Tell

We’re always looking for talented teachers and professional staff, and we may have the perfect opportunity for someone you know! Qualified candidates can send their resume and/or CV to jobs@bishopkelley.org. We keep this information on file to reference when we have openings.