By Haarika Raavi
Ocotillo City Reporter
With new generations, change is bound to envelop the future of the United States, for better or for worse. Luckily, programs like Arizona Girls State offer great insight as to the ideas and ideals that are present in the minds of plenty of young leaders, whether these topics range from technological safety to healthcare equality.
This reporter decided to peer into the ideas of a Girls Nation candidate, one amongst all those who are more than qualified to head to Washington, D.C. in July, representing the state of Arizona with pride and ambition.
Although this interview was taken before the results of the primary election for Girls Nation, it is safe to say that all candidates’ campaigns are of the highest degree, and delegates should most certainly be acknowledged for their aspirations and noble intent.
Interviewed was Tiena Serrano, who runs under the platform of technological safety and the necessity to protect American children.
She emphasizes the need to protect the next generations in an age during which the internet’s domain grows exponentially precarious.
First off, what is your name and what city are you from?
Serrano: “My name is Tiena Serrano, and I am from Saguaro City in Kaibab County.”
What school do you come from?
Serrano: “I come from Liberty High School in Peoria, Arizona”
What is your platform as you are running for Girls Nation?
Serrano: “So my platform is internet safety for youth, and I believe that we need to make social media better because […] we as kids have seen things on the internet that have left us creating bad habits.
Like some of us doom scroll or have other addictions and toxic relationships and such, and I feel that for when we do have kids, which is the main goal of this, is to protect our kids from all the bad things on the internet.
Social media companies are exploiting children, and that is no bueno. So yeah, we need to have better social media safety for the youth.”
Why do you think that you are best fit for Girls Nation?
Serrano: “I believe that I’m best fit for Girls Nation because I believe it is an experience that I wish every one of us could experience, but I would absolutely love to go so I can really understand how our government systems work. And maybe I can learn and find my true passion, as I make a real change for the world.”
Those who made the ballot as the final eight were announced just before flag, with Ocotillo’s Emma Goldstein being included with her legislative aim to eliminate corporations like Collegeboard in particular, which, from her position, has an unnecessarily influential impact on students’ futures.