By Julia Watson
Sycamore City Reporter
Yesterday, on June 2nd, Sasha Anand and Cameron Mermelli inspired the members of Girls State through their well-spoken testaments of their experiences at Girls State and Nation. As they spoke and answered questions, valuable information was provided to those who listened.
Sasha and Cameron served as a great example of what it takes to truly succeed in this environment. And, no, it’s not just prior experience. In fact, both of these talented women expressed how they were nervous and not as experienced to begin with.
However, stepping out of their comfort zone when campaigning is what truly led them to their current position.
When campaigning, they expressed the effectiveness of humor and authenticity. For example, Cameron took her last name, Mermelli, and shortened it to “Merm” in order to rhyme it with worm. Simple, memorable, and humorous campaign slogans are a useful tool to help voters connect with your message.
Additionally, your actions outside of your campaign are just as critical. It is essential to build genuine connections with your peers rather than speaking with people only for their vote. It’s very clear to voters when the candidate is trying to genuinely get to know them or not.
Their speech and discussion also provided a lot of encouragement for aspiring leaders. It is easy to compare yourself to the girls around you when beginning your campaign. When looking from an outside perspective, it can seem like everyone else goes through the campaign process with ease.
However, everyone has their own struggles and fears to push through. Whether you win or lose, campaigning in Girls State is a great way to challenge yourself in spite of this fear. There is a place for each and every one of us at Girls State no matter where we start.
So, get out there, meet people, and strive for different positions without letting doubt hold you back. You might just make it to Girls Nation and create lasting connections that will stay with you for years to come.