Southampton Students Represent at The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute

Seniors Karla Valdespino and Jhon Sebastian Puerto Arenas were selected as delegates to attend the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute in Albany, NY on March 23-25 through a teacher nomination process that revealed the students to have shown leadership skills and high academic records.  
The purpose of the institute, a collaboration with the New York State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task force, is to empower students while developing their leadership skills, creating opportunities for them to interact with positive role models, and developing an in depth knowledge of the state legislative process.
Karla and Jhon Sebastian first took part in a 2-day training session with approximately 50 participants from across Long Island where they worked to identify and research local issues, to study the New York State legislative process, parliamentary procedure and selected bills, and to prepare issue papers.  "We had to understand lots of different issues and work on our public speaking skills, speaking with confidence and authority," says Karla.
After the training, they were expected to contact their State Assemblyman, Fred Thiele, to talk to him about the focus issue and determine where he stood on the proposed legislation to make sure all voting notices and information is made available in both English and the dominant foreign language of a community.
"As their chaperone during the training days, I know how hard they worked to prepare for the Mock Assembly in Albany," says Mary Jane Greenfield.
Approximately 200 students from across the state then gathered in Albany with Jhon Sebastian and Karla to participate in the 3-day institute.  In addition to participating in team-building exercises, Karla and Jhon made friends from across the state and took part in a Mock Assembly session conducted in the New York State Assembly chamber.  Jhon Sebastian noted how he spoke that day on the Assembly floor and how he learned that the system of lawmaking in New York is very comparable to that of his native Columbia. After all of the hard work in training and the institute, the students celebrated with a formal dance where Karla notes that Jhon Sebastian showcased his dancing talents well.  
"We were chosen by our teachers because we are leaders.  I learned that as a leader, it is my job to speak for those who don't have a voice," says Jhon Sebastian of what he is taking away from the experience.
What are the future plans for these two?  Karla is in the process of making her final decision about where to attend college next year and Jhon Sebastian is looking forward to working toward a career in environmental engineering.