A Binghamton High School junior had an opportunity to be in the “room where it happens,” learning the ins and outs of State government. Samantha Dalmolen spent a week at the NYS Capitol as one of 42 students from across the state participating in the annual Students Inside Albany conference.
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the event serves to provide a first-hand education about government and increase students’ awareness of the roles and responsibilities of elected representatives. Additionally, participants learn how they can be active members in the democratic process.
“We started with a lot of basic overviews of the State Legislature, listened to a lot of presentations from professionals about organizing and lobbying,” Dalmolen said. “The second day I got to shadow my representatives, go on the floor, attend committee meetings. I got the perspective of the minority party and then also the majority party and getting their perspective on the bills.”
Dalmolen shadowed a local Assemblymember and Senator, attending session and visiting the floors of each Chamber. She also attended interactive lectures on topics like the state budget process, the roles of lobbyists, and the rights of citizens to access public information.
“I learned a lot about the legislative process, but for me, more impactfully, it was important seeing so many passionate people working hard together to make a tangible impact about things they were passionate about,” Dalmolen said. “Representatives from the League of Women Voters, my legislators, and also my fellow students - everyone was really passionate and hardworking.”
While she brings back new knowledge and skills to BHS, this isn’t Dalmolen’s first foray into civics. The junior is president of her class and is a member of the Policy Debate and Mock Trial teams; she also organized a month-long voter registration drive at the school in the fall, registering 59 new voters. She hopes to use this experience in her future after high school.
“I’m not totally sure of my track after school, but something in public policy, public service, international affairs, maybe pre-law, something like that,” Dalmolen said.
Outside of her civic engagement work, Dalmolen is captain of the tennis team and member of the lacrosse team.