Seat At The Table
One of the most beautiful things about a woman ' s mind is her stubbornness. And her ability to continue to work towards her goals, regardless of people saying she should give up. Councilwoman Nikki Nice possesses this ability. She was told by her mentor that
she was not ready to campaign. Because of this, Councilwoman Nice worked hard to prove her mentor wrong. And she accomplished just that. Councilwoman Nice won her election by 72% of the vote.
My favorite section of her speech during this morning’s assembly was about Senator James Lankford. Senator Lankford wanted government officials to “ open their table” to people they wouldn’t normally associate with. When he brought this up at a meeting Councilwoman Nice responded, “have you had anyone at your table?” This was a valid question, but her bluntness shocked the room. The next day Senator Lankford invited her to dinner. Her courage to speak her mind inspires me to continue to speak my mind, as well. Especially when it gets you an invitation to a free dinner!
-Chloe Cheatwood, Harvey City
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY OKLAHOMA GIRLS STATE May 2023 Vol 80, Issue 5
Girls Nation Preparation
Whistle Stops were a unique way to prepare the girls for what could be thrown at them if they were to be selected for Girls Nation. It was also a great way for fellow delegates to express their opinions and start “those conversations”. I feel that we all gained more knowledge and experience in not only known issues and topics, but also new ones. It was a great way to practice seeing things from other female perspectives.
- Jadyn McDonald, Chisolm CityCase Studies
Today, Keister City had the opportunity to listen to Patty Labarthe. Patty is an enforcement attorney who works for the Oklahoma Department of Securities. We got to learn a little bit about her job and who she works with. We got to review a case study and hear the problem and the reasoning from both sides. Patty helped us navigate our critical thinking and helped us ask the right questions to further reach a decision on a case. It was truly a very cool insight of what she does on a daily basis. Thank you Patty!
- Serenity Golightly, Keister City
Today, the most honorable Leslie Osborn graced us with her presence at Girls State. Osborn spoke on her journey to becoming a Labor Commissioner in a man’s world and her opinions on what matters more in the world, instead of focusing on situations and opinions that will not drastically change our future.
Five years ago Osborn ran for office and was elected. While she was running, Osborn spoke of the struggles about social media and what people say. Osborn said that people would comment on her appearance rather than what she stood for and what she spoke about. At her job she works with others to ensure public safety. Osborn says she likes to work with people who think they don’t have all the answers, as she said this is when she and others can grow and learn together.
During Osborn’s time in office she had to face many problems with the people she worked with. She said many would rather focus on what groups choose to do with their life, instead of fixing real state issues. However, Osborn said a very impactful comment, “The United States of America is a melting pot. America is built on freedom.” As she left the stage, Osborn said one last thing. She told Girls State to “call for civility.”
We kindly thank Leslie Osborn for coming to speak with us today and hope that her words will continue to impact all of us in amazing ways.
-Moo Paw, Reed City
A Celebration in the Making
Today, Girls State delegates and staff experienced a celebration that was eighty years in the making. All of the Girls State Girls had the option of dressing up in 80s apparel. The night was filled with a mix of throwback songs as well as current songs. One of my favorite parts of these dance parties is getting to see the past Girls State ladies having a fun time dancing, or mingling with us current delegates. One of my favorite parts of the night was getting to see all of the fun outfits. I saw so many bright-colored costumes, scrunchies, hoops, leg warmers, and more. It made me really happy to see all of Girls State 2023 come together and dance. I felt as though everyone was very accepting of one another. I will definitely remember tonight's celebration for the rest of my life along with the amazing girls I met throughout my experience as a Girls State gal.
~Aatma Patel, Smith City