Page 210 - Carrollton 2016

c o s e - u p

Carrollton Gets Close Up
By Elizabeth Bee '18, Andrea Delgado '18, Nina Vazquez '18

Carrollton sophomores and juniors attended the Close Up program in our nation's
Capital where they learned about United States history and exercised the value of youth
participation in government.

Close Up's five-day program included tours of Washington, interactive workshops and
discussions about current issues with several of the nation's leaders.
Throughout the week, participants visited various memorials to reflect on events that
marked turning points in our nation's history. On the first day of the program, students
visited monuments dedicated to the three faces of democracy: Thomas
Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr.

After visiting the memorials, students participated in workshops and discussed the political
philosophies of these individuals and how they shaped democracy.
Much of the program was spent discussing issues facing America with other students from
around the nation Present-day concerns ranging from gun control to immigration allowed
students a glimpse of the legislation process. Program instructors presented information
impartially, giving students the tools to formulate their own opinions and effectively
support their personal stance, Through activities such as conservative versus liberal debates
and mock Congress, students were taught to take oppositional as well as cooperative
stances on government policies This showed students the importance of political efficacy
and the value of an active youth voice in government.
All in all the workshops and debates combined to form a wholesome experience where
students became well informed and educated about the present issues in American