Transcripts For CSPAN2 QA 20160811

This week on q a, a discussion with High School Students attending the 54th annual United State Senate youth progr program. The students talked about their participation in the program and their plans for the future. Cspan give me your name and where you are from. Brooke hanes from indiana. Cspan what are we doing here . Today we will talk about our experiences we had over the week, visiting many places in the nations capitol and listening to our leaders. Your name, sir . I am alex young and also from indiana. What are you been doing this week . We have been talking to quest speakers from different departments in the burr and Supreme Court. But the most important part was interacting with the delegates from washington, d. C. , japan and south korea. Whether it was talking about politics or what we had for breakfast was probably the best part of the weekend. Cspan any disagreements . For sure. But whether it is our favorite fruit, you know . I like pineapple but lots dont. Disenzyme disagreements but ends in a hand shake. Cspan what is the program called . U. S. Senate Youth Program. Cspan how do you get chosen . Each state selects two delegates based on their application essays and their resume. Cspan why dont we move around and find out what is on the rest of your minds. I would start by asking the question after this week who impressed you the most and why . So if we get some hands. Let start here. Stand up, name and where you are from. I am Meredith Mccain and from atlanta, georgia. Cspan that is who you are most impressed . Washington journalist talked to us and i loved the outside source reporting back to us and the electorate and told us to look out for our Guardian Angels and those who guide us. Cspan what is your own goal . Where were you going in life . I would louver to be an International Journalist or to be part of the Foreign Service and eventually an ambassador to a spanishspeaking country. But you know, just something that is a global point of view and can incorporate lots of different people and government leaders like mr. Capeheart had in his career. Cspan thank you. Lets go over here. Yes, sir, stand up, name and from. Walter jackson from north carolina. I would have to say my most memorable moment would be going to the white house and meeting the president and the best part was watching him come down the hallway was you see that on television but seeing it in person was incredible. Cspan what did you notice in person that you dont see on television . He looked a little thinner than he does on television. But still, just to be in a president s presence, no matter if you agree with his policies or not is incredible. He is tall. His ears look the same. But it was just an incredible experience and i am grateful to the Hurst Foundation for giving me that opportunity. Cspan what year do you plan to run for president . I dont plan to run. Cspan yes, sir, your name and where are you from. Stand where they can see you. Hi, i am hari kumar and i am from massachusetts. Cspan who this week impressed you the most . I enjoyed the senator from hawaii because she grew up from a tough family and it was inspirational hearing what she had to say and her years in Public Service were an inspiration to us all. Cspan where is your family from . Southern india and we moved here well my parents moved in the 80s and i grew up here. Cspan what is the difference between being an immigrant and born in this country . Ancestors coming from european countries. There is a lot of racial diversity here. It is great tool like the different types of perspectives depending on where you group, what type of economic background you, because the Hurst Foundation provided all of the money. Travel expenses and hotel room was covered meaning people from various economic backgrounds were able to come. I really enjoyed learning from everyone. Cspan somebody told me you got a surprise announcement on your scholarship. What was it . Everyone thought it would be 5,000 which is phenomenal but on sunday night, i think, they announced it would be doubled so that is 10,000 and then the loudest applause i ever heard erupted in the room. [applause] cspan who else wants to talk about somebody. Hi, i am from New Hampshire and i want to tell you about Jeffrey Hurst of the human. He talked about Technology Museum and its influence in the news media especially the past 20 years and i enjoyed his speech because it talked about how we have created our own space spaces online where we have information we agree with coming to us but dont hear a lot from the other side because of the way the algorithms work on social media. Cspan do you go to both sides . I have been trying to follow different people on twitter as mr. Gabe heart said because you hear from both sides. So i am starting to get more information from the other side instead of people that agree with me. Cspan anybody over here . Yes, maam. What is your name and were are you from . I am Madeleine Morano from wyoming. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the most inspirational person we have met. She has been an idol of mine for a long time. I either want to be in the Legal Profession or possibly a senator. But she has done such amazing work to advance womens rights and especially women going into the legal system. So it was really an honor to get to speak to her. Cspan what did she say when she made her presentation that will you will remember . That is tough. Well, she talked a lot about the influences of Different Supreme Court justices and sort of their legacies. So i guess it makes you think about like what you want your legacy to be even if you are not a Supreme Court justice. But just how impactful some of their state departments decisions have been and if i one day become a lawyer i will want to put a lot of thought into these important decisions because it is something that is really going to stick around. Cspan in this room a few days ago she gave an eulogy to Justice Scalia and they were Close Friends over the years and couldnt have been more different. Is that symbol for your life or the symbol in the Political Campaign . I think we have not seen enough of it in the Political Campaigns. There is a lot of bickering on both sides but i think it is important to reach across the aisle and try to get to know people, not only that you are running against, but really anyone who has a different opinion than yours because it is really important to challenge your perspectives. Cspan i want to go to the other end of the room. I see a lot of hands over here and get other perspective. Your name and where you are from and make sure you look at the camera. Kate from nevada. My favorite person that spoke to us this week was lamar alexander. He gave us a positive perspective and told us we could do whatever we wanted to do be when we got older. He told us a story about doing voice state back in tennessee he was elected to be the governor and the governor had a talk with him and said some day one of you will be the governor of tennessee and he actually was. It was really cool to hear the Inspiring Stories like that. And you know, he talked about how you dont need to be partisan and just agree to disagree thing. Cspan based on what you saw this week what do you want to become in the future . Of all jobs people have that spoke with you . Dream would be Public Service but the military mentors shown me that i do think i want to serve after college so that was really cool to see their perspective. Cspan take advantage of your hand up and get your name and where where you are from. I am Melissa Sylvester and the most inspiring person i heard was my military mentor, major, long of the air force who inspired me with her dedication to Public Service and serving the United States of america. She is an inspiration with her hard work and wisdom she has been able to impart on our group. Cspan is she in this room . She is. Cspan where is she sitting . Right over there. [applause] cspan explain what mentors do during the week. Our military mentors have been given groups of around 67 kids per mentor and they have been explaining to us the role of etiquette and decorum in some of the various settings that we have had to learn about this week as well as keeping us organized and definitely on time as well. They have also told their stories about working for the United States of america and what that met to them. And i didnt expect my military mentor to play such a big role in my experience here but she really has and i appreciate that very much. Cspan guess where i am going next . It a bit of a trek. I am going to the military mentor to find out her story. Where is she . I am looking at the wrong person. What is your name again . Major breezy long. Cspan major, why do you think she thinks you are such a good mentor . Well, all this time i thought she was such a bright kid, but i dont know. Honestly, i am not even sure how i ended up in the company of military mentors. I have not been involved with youth and volunteering as much as many of my colleagues. They have extensive backgrounds in this work and i am fortunate to be among them. Cspan where are you stationed . I am at Los Angeles Air force base. Cspan how long in the air force . 12 years. Cspan why did you go in in the first place . I thought what my grandparents did in their generation was traditional to join the military first out of high school and give back to the United States before they went on to pursue their own careers whether it be Public Service or simply putting food on the table. I didnt give thought to whether it was traditional for women but just traditionally american. I planned to be in four or five years before moving on. Cspan you changed your mind . Yes, sir. Cspan thank you very much. [applause] cspan i was going to switch but this young lady has something to say. I am abigail from north carolina. Jack warren was the speaker that inspired me. He is the director of the society of cincinnati and background on that it is the oldest Historical Society of its kind in the United States and it catalogs the ideology that preface the revolutionary war and ideas in which the nation is founded. And i have to admit he wasnt had speaker i was looking forward but as soon as he got up and started talking about the beginning of the nation essentially revolutionalized individual liberty and the relationship between people and their government and the extent in which people were able to be free i was inspired and it tugged at the heart springs. Cspan what are your own plans . I started out hoping to be the first female chief justice of the United States Supreme Court but listening to the legislatures that we have spoken to i think i would like to try to get into politics and policy making. Cspan do you know where you are going to go to school . No, sir. Cspan what is your name . I am kyelee and my father is active duty in the army and we are stationed in south korea. I would love to talk about the people from nasa. Like the nasa administrator, charles golden, and others from the center. A lot of us may not be interested in pursuing s. T. E. M. Careers but it was inspiring to hear how passionate people are about science and expanding the frontiers of what we know especially mr. Bolden. He gave us insight into looking into where our tax money is going and asking the right questions. Hearing how personal he was and interacting with the audience was amazing and just to feel that passion from nasa was one of the big takeaways. Cspan are you interested in going to mars . After seeing movies like martian and gravity i think a lot more people are interested in science and yes, i think that would be really amazing. Cspan see what we can work out for you. I want to switch and find out what you have been thinking this week about politics. You met a lot of politicians. I assume you are watching the president ial campaign. You probably came in here with ideas of what you thought political people were like upclose. Your name and where were you from . Nathan levt from oklahoma. Where in oklahoma . Tulsa. Cspan what is your high school . Booker t. Cspan we had 2800 entries during our last campaign and the big winner was from tulsa, oklahoma, jen ks high school. What do you think about politics . I think we are interested in politics and came in skeptical watching the derbies that are the debates and it reaffirmed my faith in politics because the people we see on television and cspan are real people. When i saw president obama, the thing that stood out is he had bags under his eyes and he is a real person dealing with real things. Cspan so what are you thinking when you see the campaign . Is that real . To an extent. These are real people with real ideas that transform themselves. I think perhaps the biggest dichotomy could be between the last two republican debates. There was the one where everyone attacked each other and last night they were civil and had a real debate. I think it is the real female the extent the polling tells them to be. Cspan thank you, sir. How about over here. Yes, sir, what is your name . Justin cross from knoxville, tennessee. Cspan what are you thinking . Like what nathan is saying they seem hard headed and unable to compromise but it is taking place. They seem to draw a hard line but a lot of times they are able to justify that based on their moral or economic beliefs about politics. Cspan what is your reaction to watching the campaign . I think a lot of that is distorting the media. You know . They always say no press is bad press so getting their name out there, getting attention, is more of the driving motivator. But i think when you look underneath, at least with the majority of the campaigns with the exception of maybe one or two, they do have plans and goals they want to make happen. I think what we are seeing through the campaign process is simply a tool to get in office and try to make it happen. Cspan what are you own plans . I am going to university of Tennessee Knoxville and then hope to law school and we will see where i go from there. Cspan i heard 50 of the Law School Graduates cant find jobs. I am doing a business undergraduate so hopefully i have a safety net there. Cspan thank you. Yes, sir . Tell us where you are from and your name. Hi, i am Jackson Wilkins and from mississippi. To answer your question about politics i think the thing that struck me this week is how distorted our view of politics has become through a really politicized media. When i met senator whicker from mississippi, he is very conservative and something we are proud of. I noticed after taking pictures he walked up to senator cory booker and took his hand and they had huge smiles on their face. I was surprised because the media teaches us that democrats and republicans are supposed to be at odds with each other. I think that people make recognize that we need to be respectful toward each other and we need to understand senators are respectful toward each other and that will be more conducive to getting real policy done. Cspan do you blame the media . You said that but what about the politicians . Do they have any responsibility in this back and forth . Obviously. We need to be respectful toward each other and recognize though we disagree we are all working toward the same goal and want what is best for the United States. We just disagree on the best path to reach that goal. Cspan i would like to ask if there is anybody in the room who cant stand this campaign . Dont like what they see. Willing to stand up and take about it. Who is somebody i havent talked to. I dont think i have talked to you. What is your name . Laura wagoner and go to high school in delaware. Cspan what about this campaign . I think it has gone so far extreme. The republicans have gone very far to the right and the democrats have gone far to had left and i think most americans are moderate voters. As a moderate voter, the tough part is how we can bring compromise back to the middle. Compromise is the foundation of the nation and i believe if we want to go forward and do the best we have to find a middle ground. So not polarize it the right or left as much. Cspan what do you think is motivating this . I think a lot of it is stand standup candidates who are sound bytes in the media. Donald trump can Say Something horrible and it pushes everybody so far to the right. Just the 24 hour news cycle and the fact any time a candidate is on the record and they are trying to push everybody away from the middle. Cspan the right says donald trump is not a conservative. That is debatable, i think. He has very bizarre policies and i think candidates like ted cruz are very far to the right also. So i think just the insanity of this campaign has polarized everybody. Cspan who else has something to say about the campaign we have not talked . Yes, sir, your name . Adrien and i go to school in west virginia. Cspan where . Martin. Cspan what do you think . Politics is a very hard topic to talk about because there is such a wide range of everything. All the topics they cover are broad and extensive. It is very hard to talk about politics especially in the world of serious partisanship and just the severe divide and polarization. When you have a Campaign Like this you have strong willed people who want to make a difference and you see a wide view of strong opinions and leads to tension. Cspan never in history have so many people watched debates during the primaries. Good or bad . Well, if you like sports it is really good. Cspan is it drawing more people into the whole discussion of what is going on in this country . I dont know if it is bringing them into discussion but it is bringing them into the sporting part of it. I see a lot of people coming into it and they dont care about the opinions or policies or how it affects them but just how it entertains them. That is why we are seeing recordbreaking numbers is because people are coming out because they want to see someone Say Something nasty or see something exciting happen. Coming to a program like this, we were with president obama and he said as the youth of america, whatever you do please dont be cynical about politics. And before this program i think a lot of us were very cynical. Being able to sit down at a dinner table with people i just met, within a week, may not know your state or your political belief, but we engage in a political discussion and talk about the things we believe in and i have heard comments, you know, when i was sitting there one person told me your opinion is very respectable. We dont hear that in national politics. It is inspiring to sit here, whether with a military mentor or mc or mr. Cox or somebody from across the nation in a big city, is so inspiring to see that we are all together even if we have different opinions. Cspan steve cox was here and our audience hasnt seen the retired marine officer sitting over here. Former marine. Never say exmarine; right . Who else . I think it is about time we are seeing a Campaign Like this. I think the voters of america were board with establishment politics. Seeing the same stuff over and over and it is also kind of a credit to the politicians for being able to capitalize on this type of environment. You would not see people like this being so successful in any other year. Now this is just showing the evolution, i think, of politics and how the voters really want a change. They want Something Different. They dont want that establishment that we have been seeing all this time. I think it is really valuable in that regard and i think this campaign is important. Others may criticize it and say it is childish or too many people throwing insults at each other i think it is drawing people out and building on passion. It is Something Different and something i think american politics needs. Cspan you didnt give us your name . Aanand shah and i am from okay okinawa. My mom is in the military. I am a big fan of politics and i think why i value we are having something that is drawing so many people out. Even in okinawa where there is not much political conversation people are talking about the politics and bringing people out of their shell and realizing they are going to make a difference and change in the future. Cspan i want to see if i can find two of you. One on the right and one on the left. We can come together right here and have a little chat. Let me just see. What side are you on . I am on the right. Cspan now i need someone from the left. Is there an extremist leftist in the room . Right here . Come on up. Now lets settle this problem right here. Give us your name and where you go to school. Anna cunningham and live in arkansas. I am Miranda Cross and go to reno nevada. Cspan why are you a left ringer . I worked for the Hillary Clinton campaign nine months before the caucus in our home state of nevada. My parents are both Public Employees so i was raised to be in the power of public spending and taxation. Cspan when did you first get interested in politics . Probably two or three years ago. I was kind of selectively interested during president ial campaigns but i really started getting into the local politics and state politics and finally i could understand what my mom did for the government. She is an auditor so it took a while to fully understand what she did and then the midterms and then this president ial campaign have been the first elections i have been really involved in. Cspan we could use a few auditors here in washington. Anna is that the right . Yes, sir cspan why are you a right winger . A lot has to with christian values and i watched my parents struggle and work their way up from the bottom. I believe in Free Enterprise and capitalism and how someone can start off toward the bottom and work their way up through hard work. Cspan what are our own plans . I plan to attend the universe of arkansas and major in Public Relations and probably go on to law school. Cspan your plan . I am not sure where i am going to college but i would like to study Computer Science and hopefully get a masters degree. Cspan two more. Give me a left winger . Who is an outspoken left winger . Who you pointing out . [applause] cspan now i need an outspoken right winger. This gentlemen right here. Yes, come on up. [applause] cspan name school. I am charlie and i go to suffix high school in delaware. I am anthony and i go to Wichita East High School in wichita, kansas. Cspan somebody told me a group of republicans are wearing spandex. Is that right . Some of us are. I took mine off. Cspan why . I didnt want to upset any democrats. Cspan what issue do you feel strongest about . The intention of the constitution which i think is forgotten. I want to go back to our roots. I feel strongest about Campaign Finance reform. [applause] cspan why did they all know this . It it is all i talked about. We have to take democracy back to the people. Cspan what would you do in office . Propose a constitutional amendment to overturn citizens united. [applause] cspan what do you think . I believe in the first amendment, the right to express yourself and freely speak and one way you can express yourself is by donating to a cause you support our donating to a cause that prevents a cause you dont support. [applause] cspan what issue is the most important to you besides the constitution . Most important than the constitution . How can you ask that . My goodness. Well that is a tough one. That is my entire life. Cspan what is your second most important . Right after the constitution. Okay. Why dont you go to andrew and ask him. I think the second most important value for me is our American Values and that sounds trite and we hear that in washington all the time. But i dont think we care for each other like we used to. People dont have the same respect for different people that we use to. We see it with the rise of nationals and this on the campaign trail. We need to get back to our roots and have a constructive discourse. We need to get back to respecting all americans and making this country a more respectful place where people feel welcome to give their opinions. I am ready. I think Political Correctness is a big problem. We need people with principles and conviction and are willing to fight for the principles and conviction. I understand the need for bipartisan but i think it is important that politicians go to washington or the State Capitol with their eyes on the goal and they are determined to meet the goal instead of sacrificing it in the light of money or bipartisan. Cspan if you two have a moment every day to go some place to find out what you believe or backup what you believe or somebody in the media you respect the most who would it be . I like to read the nation interest for foreign policies. It leans a little to the right but i love the different perspective and to be able to formulate my own opinions about international affairs. Cspan and i suggest a lot of fellow High School Students are doing a lot of things. The National Interest must be number one on many lists. The democrats in the room want me to say fox news because it leads into their dialogue but, you know, i actually, the google news app is probably one of the best tools that any of us can use because it provides such a diverse array of things. So yes, i am reading stuff from the Huffington Post and usually have to find the trash can after i do. But fox news is good, too. Fair and balanced. So i get news from everywhere and imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle of everything. Cspan thank you both, gentlemen. [applause] cspan we have two more. This started something. Both of you stand and face this way so the cameras can pick you up. My name is flores and i am from mission texas. Cspan left or right . Left. And my name is Joseph Hasbrouck and i am from pascagoula, mississippi and i am moderate right. You two are sitting together. Are you friends . I would say so. Absolutely. Cspan got something going here, folks. All right. What do you think most passionately about . Well the reason i am leaning toward the left is i am a bit moderate but mostly toward the left is because i believe that we should all have social freedom to decide what we believe to be morally right and morally wrong whether it is in the issue of abortion or whether it is about your sexual i dont know how to explain. Cspan sexuality . Yes, anything socially you should be able to chose whether than having politicians telling you what is right. You should be able to chose what you think is right and have your life model your own morality since i believe it is a relative concept. There is a lot of immigrants in the country and people from so many different religions that we should have our own choice. [applause] and one of the issues where i generally fall right on is issues of economic policy. I believe in fiscal responsibility and i believe the government has grown to spend a lot of money and have duplicate projects. We have the government renting office space using to store things, for example. We have places where we can find fiscal i am sorry. Where we can find money we can cut and become more accountable to the people, reduce the National Debt and find things we can fund and support in a more effective way. So on these issues i feel that when the government is more accountable physically it is able to do more socially. As far as again where we are both moderate i believe strongly in the moderate social freedoms. But at the same time i think the government has to take a step back and stop trying to play a strong role in everyones Economic Daily life. Cspan what do you disagree with him on . From what he said . Cspan yeah. I believe the government should have a responsibility in our finances but by the same token we should have i dont know how to explain it. There should be more freedom overall because government does play a role in some peoples life and for Us Government means a lot. But there are people that dont care about politics as much and i believe a lot of people sometimes feel the government is intrusive in the things they do so i believe that there should be more freedom in that sense. Cspan what is your plan . I would like to become a senator and of course i am going to go to law school and undergrad i am thinking of journalist and political science. I am looking for a career in Foreign Relations and i am not sure on the exact College Plans but i would like to become fluent in other languages and study other cultures so we can have positive international affairs. Cspan thank you both. [applause] cspan to your Television Audience around the country this is the u. S. Senate Youth Program underwritten by the Hurst Foundation. You folks have been in town as you know for a week. There are 104 of you in this room. Two from each state and a couple from the territories. We are talking about your experience this week. We have about 20 minutes. The last part is i would like to get some of you in the room to talk about who has most influenced you in your own life. It could be a teacher, parent, somebody you know, a fellow student, and i am looking for new faces and i will start right here. What is your name and where were you from . Julie blackwell and i am from maine. Cspan who do you most look up to in life . My mother. Cspan why . When i was born she was a ten parent and single mom and yet she took the time in her life to raise me as an independent woman and i value everything that she taught me and letting me make my own ideas about what i actually think. I was raised in a home with both a democrat and a republican. I was giving the opportunity to go to church or not. I was able to form my own opinions without them being forced on me. She makes sure that i can go to every opportunity that i desire and make the best of my resources. Cspan and what does she do . She works for girl scouts of maine so she is a Public Servant as well. Cspan where in main . Witch, main. Nobody knows it even people that live in maine. Cspan all right. Yes, sir . I am kay herman from louisiana. As cliche as it sounds my father is the most influential source. He solidified my right. He died as a business owner. I believe america is out of touch with that belief that you can do whatever you want to do no matter where you start. It is more about where you finish. Cspan when did your dad die . My freshman year of high school. Cspan what was the cause . Leukemia and passed away of a stroke. Cspan your name . Sarah from north carolina. Cspan who is the big person in your life . My brother. Cspan why . He gives me opportunities to come here. I live on a farm so like i show cattle and all that and he is staying home to take care and do all those things and gives me the opportunities to do whatever i want. Cspan what is his name . Clay. Cspan is he older . He is 21. Cspan what does he do . Farm. Cspan thanks, brother. Yes, sir . I am alex mcgraph from maryland. Cspan who is your favorite person . I would say rita of the caramel Unified School District in caramel, california. My first exposure to politics on the local level was the School Board Meeting i went to in 7th grade. This woman was so inspiring. I am best friends with her son evan petal and she would not take anything from anyone. She was steadfast in her beliefs and did anything it took to get the School District what they needed. Cspan tough living in caramel, isnt it . Yeah. Cspan what did you remember she specifically did that was important . Just how she could turn any situation to her advantage. I remember when she came late to a meeting and found a story about everything she was wearing because she slipped on an antibullying shirt and threw on a jacket and i am here and i am going to advocate for my students. Cspan good story. Thank you. Lets go over here to an area we havent been to and somebody we have not heard from. This gentlemen with the bright red shirt. Yes, sir. I am jay from the great state of michigan. Cspan where in michigan . Right near lake heron. Cspan who do you credit with being your best leader . We often hear about the broken School System in the country and i am incredibly lucky not to have that problem. The teachers that we have at our high school believe in the students. My history teacher, my government teacher, my principal, they are dedicated to education and i am indebted to them. Cspan give us an example of something they did that makes you indebted . Nominating me to come to this program. If somebody didnt believe in us and our future there is no any of us would be here. Cspan what did you have to do to get to be chosen for this program . We had to receive nominations, hold a leadership position in our school or community, and go through quite a process. Very indepth government exam and writing a lot of essays to show or sound like we know what we are talking about. Cspan what are your own plans . To give back to the community that has given so much to me and hopefully represent people at the state level. Cspan when you are elected some day you can go back to this tape and remember that. How about at this table. Yes, sir . I am gonzales and from new mexico. Cspan who is the leader or mentor . Honestly my father. When he was born, he grew up in poverty, northern rural new mexico. His family moved all around. He found a way to support the family. Throughout his life he has shown she is dedicated to others he. He served in the military for 32 years and retired as a colonel in the army. Every step of the way he enabled me and encouraged me to push the limits. I do argue with him a lot over anything and everything it is still a amazing to have that person you can go back to and say he is the one i want to be like. Cspan what are your own plans . Right now i want to be everything from a music educator to a policy analyst to a journalist. I mean it is all over the place. I am all over the place. Cspan there is still time. All three of them. I want to do something i have never done and she is going to be so mad at me. We have done this for about ten years. Rayney gillford who is responsible for all of this organize with her staff hates the fact i am about to talk to her. Over the years you brought all these students to the Hurst Foundation what has been the biggest impact on you . I think i have told the students. I used to work in the senate on behalf of atrisk students and that was a great privilege. But now i have a chance to work with the most talented, bright as you can all see, gifted, wonderful young people. I feel that it is just as participant for this nation because the pebbles that are going into the the pond here, the Ripple Effect of all of your leadership, it just makes me emotional to listen to how wonderful you are. I think viewers of cspan will feel the same way. But the impact you will have makes me realize everything i do for you here, and all of us on the staff do for you, is really the greatest gift we can give to the country. So it is my privilege to do this program this way. [applause] cspan i have known rayney for 25 years and love to see her emotional like that. That was a lot of fun. She puts a lot of work into this. Who is your mentor . My name is deja chappell and i am a senior from alabama. My mentor for the last six years has been a woman who worked with me since 7th grade when i started working with the clean city commission. If you dont know, montgomery was the cradle of the con federacy but the birthplace of the civil rights movement. It has been strange having this woman be my best friend and story teller as i worked with environmental causes that dont that much support from where i am from. She taught me i can dream and be wh whimsical and practical. Cspan what are your plans . College and in college i would like to study anything in humanities and maybe womens studies or venture into africanamerican studies and i would be interested in going to law school or becoming a rohode scholar and pursuing grad school. The law schools are having trouble getting enough students and i think this crowd will fill a lot of the law schools. We dont have much time. Ten minutes left. And some of you have things want to say. Your name . Keith jillette from rhode island. Cspan why was your hand in the air . As you were saying time is running out i want to say it is tough to make a choice but my mom has been the biggest influence on my life. She is a Public Servant herself. Not in elected office but she started off as a teacher. A high School Teacher. She was a single mom, raised me for most of the time that i have really been alive and all she has done has been for me. I really appreciate everything she has ever done because she has been educating not just me but students in my town which is pretty poor town in woonsocket for years. Around the time i got into middle school she really began to focus on her career beyond teaching and now she is an assistant superintendent in the North Providence School District. She makes so much impact every day coming home exhausted every day and i am always telling her that she could probably use more sleep. But she definitely puts her heart into everything she does and i could not be anymore prouder that i could be here and say that everything she has done i appreciate it because now i can be here and make something of myself for her. Cspan thank you very much. [applause] cspan hands up quickly. Hi, i am Claire Barnett from tennessee. I have to say, well there is two people i have to mention. Most of all my role model is my mother who is a middle School Principal on the low income side of town and she said making a difference in their life is more important than moving up in life. And my speech and debate coach i have to mention. She showed me that even though we disagree we can disagree respectfully. Cspan what do you disagree with your teacher on . She is more socially liberal where i am socially conservative. That is the primary difference. But we found ways to respectfully backup opinions with evidence and talk about why we feel the way we do. Cspan thank you. This gentlemen. Yes, sir, your name. I am the two people that embody the American Dream the most are my parents. They came to the United States fleeing from a civil war. They are both refuges. They both started off with practically nothing and moved into lincoln city and worked up and we live moderately comfortable. Just their ambition and drive inspired me and their passion for american democracy and government. My dad is the only person i know who likes paying his taxes. It has inspired me to get more involved in the country that has given them and me an opportunity to grow and succeed. Cspan have you examined your fathers reason for paying tax snz he is a middle School Teacher and loves his job and my nmom i a nurse. Cspan what do you want to do . I want to study public policy. Cspan who are the two speakers, they chose a couple. There is one. I will ask this gentlemen what he is going to tell this group tonight. [applause] cspan how did you get picked to speak . I have been socialable and i like talking to people and i think i am funny and they probably want to hear a few jokes. Can we get one to lighten up the program . Maybe if you come back tonight. What message do you want to deliver tonight after this week here in washington . Aside from the humor, i want everyone to reflect on the fact that even though we all come from different backgrounds we have a Great Potential for success in Public Service or medicine or business. I dont want any of that potential to go wasted with any of these great individuals. Good luck tonight. We have the other we have talked to this young lady. Remind us your name. Meredith mccain from atlanta georgia. Cspan why did you get picked . I have no idea. They called my name and we had knock out debate rounds about absurd topics. It was really fun and i am passionate about public speaking so hopefully people acknowledge that. Cspan what do you want to say tonight . I want to just summarize our collective experience and how much it has meant to us being blessed with this experience from the Hurst Foundation and hopefully i can capture a little emotion about how everyone feels about spending the week in washington. Cspan what the emotion all about . Just a passion to give back, to serve the public, as people brought up in their small speeches here today. Just a way to give back no matter what sector or industry we go into. We want to serve others and be involved in the process of american democracy. Cspan thank you. If you were going to give a speech tonight and wanted to give a short message to this group and you havent talked to us yet quickly stand up, please, and tell us who you are. Right here. I am Melissa Sylvester from burlington, vermont and my message is increase bipartisan as we move forward as a republican from a very liberal state i appreciate the political dialogue that goes back and forth between the two parties and i hope we can actually transform that dialogue into meaningful work. Cspan thank you. You can stay where you are. Tell us who you are . I am molly lynn and a delegate from montana. I want to reiterate something president obama said. He said know what you want to do not what you want to be. And what this basically meant is have these goals, have these ambitions but dont have an ambition to gain an office or power. That brings it back to us. We are all inspiring leaders in our world and we have social goals or goals to attain and i think those are powerful words he said. Cspan thank you. Time for one more. Yes, maam . I think that we all need to remember cspan tell us who you are . Hannah robins from arkansasment Everyone Needs to remember to challenge your ideals and talk to people that dont have the same beliefs so you can strengthen yours and maybe change them. Find a way to realize you cannot live in your own bubble and need to find others. Cspan right here. I am lisa gunther from wisconsin. One thing i thought was important we heard yesterday was do not be afraid to fail. We have successful in the room but i would encourage you if you fail appreciate that. And i hope you never become so use to success it isnt special any more. Cspan one last person. Stand and tell us who you are. Carolyn from south dakota. I think an inspirational quote i will take from ussr. Senator cory gardner said when he was meeting someone from his Favorite Movie he heard from his advisor act like you belong. He said act like you belong but we belong here. Be who you are. Be yourself. You dont have to act like you belong because we all belong here. Cspan i want to thank the students in the room and the Hurst Foundation for letting us come here with cameras and this is u. S. Senate Youth Program. Thank you all very much. [applause] for free transcripts or your comments visit us at q a. Ocom tomorrow gabe roth takes about the changes he would like to see on the Supreme Court including opening up oral arguments to cameras and term requirements on judges. Q a begins at 7 p. M. Eastern time each week day this month. Throughout the month we are showing booktv programs during the week in prime time. Booktv takes our Public Affairs programming and focuses on the latest Nonfiction Book releases through interviews and book discussions. Our signature programs are in depth, a live three hour look at one authors work. It airs the first sunday of every month at noon eastern. After wards is a oneonone conver with the author of a book with an interviewer often has an opposing viewpoint. And we go across the country and visit author events and book parties where authors talk about their latest work. Booktv is the only network devoted exclusively to Nonfiction Books. Booktv, television for serious readers. Every night in august, book booktv is in prime time. Tonight a focus on reporters in the field. First, Nbcs Richard Engel talks about reporting from the middle east. Then we will hear from new york staff writer david denby on his year spent in three different tenth grade classrooms. Later, Sebastian Junger talks about veterans returning home and then a panel of journalist on their experiences covering war. Now, to politics and prose bookstore in washington, d. C