> About LH >> News

Lauralton student looks toward the White House

Posted on Nov 13, 2007

If 16-year-old Livia Fry has it her way, she’ll be known as “Madame President” one day.

 “Maybe I’ll start out as a congresswoman first, and then go for the White House,” says the Lauralton Hall junior and Stratford resident. “First I’ll become a lawyer and a prosecutor, but I’ve wanted to go into politics forever.” 

Livia got a taste of what a life in national politics would be like this summer, when she spent a month as a Democratic page to the U.S. House of Representatives. According to a letter written by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, many candidates applied for the opportunity, “but only a small number were selected.”

Livia applied for the position through U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, who like every congressperson can nominate one student per legislative session to serve as a page.

The highly competitive application process involved Livia filling out “tons of paperwork,” writing an essay and getting several letters of recommendation. She said she hoped that DeLauro, a member of the Lauralton graduating Class of 1960, would notice the fact that Livia attends her alma mater. But she also felt “fairly confident” her background would help her succeed.

A member of Lauralton’s Youth and Government Club since her freshman year, Livia is also active in Amnesty International, Lauralton’s Humanities Club, regularly participates mock trials and is known around the school for “being fairly outspoken.”

“I can’t help but speak out when I feel strongly about something,” Livia added.

As an eighth-grader, she also spent a week in Washington, D.C., as a delegate to the People to People World Leadership Forum. It was then, she said, that she heard about the page program.

“And I knew then and there that I’d be a page someday,” said Livia, a graduate of St. Lawrence Elementary School in Huntington and a member of St. Lawrence Church. “I guess you could say I’m pretty driven. I come up with a goal and then work for it.”

During her month in Washington, Livia lived with 68 other pages in a dorm-like residence hall located just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. She shared a room with two other girls•one from California, the other from Massachusetts•and like paid federal employees had to undergo an extensive background check and swear an Oath of Office.

Her daily work included running errands; transporting legislative documents between Congressional offices; delivering new bills and amendments to the House floor; answering telephones; and releasing statements to the press.

“It was am amazing experience,” said Livia, beaming. “We had complete access to the House of Representatives floor. We saw laws being made and had the opportunity to open the doors of Congress so the speaker of house could enter and start the session. Those are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”

To help remember them, pages receive at the end of their term a silver ring similar to a class ring. On it, the words “110th Congress” arc around a stone colored the same royal blue as the carpet on the Congressional floor.

“Even without the ring, I wouldn’t be able to forget my summer there,” said Livia. “Spending time with Representative DeLauro was very inspirational to me, and it means a lot to do work that you know will really help people•which I believe is what our representatives do.”

Realizing it will be several decades before she’s ready to make a bid for the House•or White House!•Livia’s immediate goals include applying, and being accepted, to Georgetown University to study pre-law and international affairs.

“Who knows. Maybe in college I’ll have the opportunity to intern at the White House or in the Capitol again. I’d love that. What I know right now, though, is that next summer will definitely be dull compared to this one.”

Lauralton Hall President Barbara C. Griffin said she can’t help but be proud of Livia.

“Inspiring our students to become competent, confident and compassionate young women is what Lauralton Hall is all about,” Griffin said. “Our students know the education they receive at Lauralton is not just for them. We expect our students to make the world a better place by what they do with their lives."


 



Printer Friendly Page

site developed by Awayke
Photo Credits