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the proper etiquette for answering and handling any calls that came
in. I helped provide information to the numerous guests wandering
around looking for their legislator or pointing them in the right
direction of major historical landmarks surrounding Capitol Square.
Although some of these things are slowly being replaced by new
technology such as ipads and computers, the valuable knowledge and
experiences I had could never be replaced by such things. I learned
that each and every legislator is an actual person and they honestly
aren’t unobtainable people sitting highly in their offices. I recently
sat down with a delegate and discussed SOL reform while having a
Coke and this is a normal occurrence. They will listen and what you
tell them can make a difference.
The knowledge of our state government that I have gained at
school does not compare to my experience at the state legislature. In
a classroom we learn how a government is supposed to work, but we
don’t learn about the exceptions. Even though only about 30 young
adults are selected for this honor, each and every one of them is a
valuable resource in helping spread the information to their peers. Not
only did I gain valuable knowledge as a young adult, I also gained
knowledge on how to be an active citizen. I was immediately thrown
into an adult environment and as a Page I had to have immense respect
for everyone around me and I had to always act with decorum.
These things combined really taught me many life lessons like
how to interact in any environment, with just about anyone. That
experience helped give me an edge when seeking acceptance to
college, scholarships, internships, and just about anything I hope
to pursue in my future. From my experiences I have gained an ever
growing interest in government, I have attended Girls State, and I
recently started interning with David Bailey Associates where I have
continued to be immersed in the governmental process. I have heard
that in order to learn you must hear it, see it and say it. I believe
also you learn best when experiencing it and that is what the Page
Program allowed me to do. I will be attending Sweet Briar College
and hope to continue learning and allowing the skills I’ve acquired
from the Page Program to flourish.
Y
ou may have recently seen the story
that Channel 6 presented about the
Virginia Page Program (if you haven’t,
the story can be found at this web address:
-
assembly-page-program
.)
As a member of the Page/Messenger
Class of 2010, I found the story and the
related comments intriguing. To this day,
my months as a Messenger for the Virginia
Senate have led to many accomplishments
that I can tie directly back to the program. The lessons I learned there
will carry me throughout the rest of my life and I believe strongly that
future generations should have the opportunity
to gain from this experience.
Nothing about the Page Program insinuates
that we only hold doors and get lunches for
legislators, it is so much more. I can’t even
recall the hours I spent collating bills in large
bill books so that they would be there for any
legislator who needed to look up a piece of
legislation they were following, which helped
teach me the process’ that bills are exposed to.
I watched and had to track bills as they were
brought up in committee, sent to sub-committee,
brought to the floor, debated and eventually
had their fate decided. I answered the phone
of Senate Services on the second floor of the
General Assembly Building all while learning
By Emily Hawk
Donald L. Ratliff
VP–States Government Affairs
Alpha Natural Resources
One Alpha Place
•
Bristol, VA 24202
P.O. Box 16429
•
Bristol, VA 24209
276.619.4479 (office)
•
276.623.2891 (fax)
276.275.1423 (cell)
•
2014 Senate Pages and Messengers and their leaders.
Legislative Counsel
John G. “Chip” Dicks
FutureLaw, LLC
1802 Bayberry Court, Suite 403
Richmond, Virginia 23226
(804) 225-5507 (Direct Dial)
(804) 225-5508 (Fax)
Reflections from a former
Senate Messenger
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