Spencer Wareing – Ocotillo City Reporter
Hello Girls State and the Internet Beyond,
To start off our wonderful week of Girls State, Ocotillo Associated Press interviewed our lovely staff — everything from City Advisors, to Nurses, to Jr. Counselors! OAP would love to take a moment to thank all of the collaborative efforts and kindnesses that the staff has given us in the first two days alone! We couldn’t do this without you, and now onto the interviews!
What’s your favorite memory from your time as a Girls State Delegate?
J. Solis, our very own Ocotillo Advisor, commented how when she was a delegate, her favorite memory, “was the bonding with everyone from my city and getting to know people from other schools throughout the state and getting to see how things run in their schools. Just the bonding basically.” Personally, I find it incredible that she, “still keeps up with them online and it’s all very cool.”
That favorite memory was a common one, shared by the Sycamore City Advisor I. Solis, Cholla City Advisor Owen, Juniper City Advisor Griffin, and Jr. Counselor Allison Gingold.
Jadyn Ocampo and Annie Traugutt, the 2021 Governor and Secretary of State, both agreed their favorite memory was learning from their fellow delegates and bettering themselves through discussion.
However, Party/HoR Advisor Tincher’s favorite memory easily won the top prize: “Pretending as a part of the mock trial to ‘injure’ our mayor by throwing a hair dryer in the shower with her to ‘electrocute’ her.”
What inspired you to become a leader?
J. Solis (City Advisor for Ocotillo City) said, “I think it was the way they said it Monday night; I believe in the Girls State program and what it does. It’s a great learning experience. It gives you a different perspective on the government.”
Griffin (City Advisor for Juniper City) described how she wished, “for the next generation in girls to be in office and go all the way to President!”
Allison Gingold (Jr. Counselor) and Annie Traugutt (Secretary of State), their families were their inspiration in leadership: “My whole family is a bunch of leaders in one group so I think that helped me overcome my fears and take initiative…” (Allison Gingold) and “My dad is in the military. I see the way he interacts with the AIT soldiers. During COVID, he sat down and facetimed their families during Thanksgiving to keep the spirit alive despite the pandemic. Over the years, I’ve witnessed the way he interacts and leads as a person. And, he has inspired me to do the same…” (Annie Traugutt).
What advice do you have for future Girls State Staff and Leadership?
All of the Girls State Staff were more than happy to provide OAP with loads of advice, so to all the delegates and future-delegates reading right now, go out there and pursue your passions! You have an entire roster of GS faculty backing you!
J. Solis (City Advisor for Ocotillo City) — “Get all the experience you can, because your experience you can pass it onto the girls who come here. The staff is very diverse — medical professionals, teachers, and I was in the military. Different experiences will give the girls a different perspective.”
Solis (City Advisor for Sycamore City) — “Go for it! Be a city advisor!”
Owen (City Advisor for Cholla City) — “Go out there and be involved and have lots of fun!”
Griffin (City Advisor for Juniper City) — “Never stop being you!”
Queen (City Advisor for Manzanita City) — “It’s the best program around education-wise and learning all about government for upcoming ladies to become citizens. It’s a wonderful program!”
Becca Hall (Jr. Counselor) — “Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into when you commit. Make sure you’re willing to work. Commit to it!”
Allison Gingold (Jr. Counselor) — “Don’t be afraid to branch out to the staff and the girls! People are so nice, don’t be intimidated. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Montijo (Office Staff) — “Step out of your comfort zone, try something new. Enjoy your life and don’t have any regrets!”
And last — but certainly not least — what dinosaur would you like to bring back to life?
What started as a fun, random question about dinosaurs quickly dissolved into a turf war between what the staff deemed ‘the superior dinosaur’.
Monday ended with four votes for T-Rex, two for Brachiosaurus (“It’s like a giraffe but much larger. You can take it for a ride. Velociraopter is cooler though,” said Jr. Counselor Becca Hall), two for Velociraptor (my personal favorite), two for Triceratops, and one for Stegosaurus and Pteradactly respectively. The day ended with T-Rex as the dinosaur champion!
Signing off,
Spencer Wareing, Ocotillo City Reporter