We the people: a civic experience.

The "We the People" competition taught me a lot of things, but among the most important was what it means to be an American and what it means to be a good citizen. In eighth grade I was taught American history by Mr. Madnikoff at Hammocks Middle School, a public school. He opened my eyes to a world of history and tradition that I was ashamed I had not known much about. He introduced me to how much knowledge was out there to gain about the country I live in and how I can play an important role as a citizen.

As a senior in high school, I joined Mrs. Rosie Heffernan at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in her Advanced Placement American Government course. She provided me with the opportunity to participate in the "We the People ... The Citizen and the Constitution" program, an arena I needed in order to educate and challenge myself.

The class was extremely demanding. It required a lot of after-school dedication and it relied upon a love of knowledge of the law. Learning various Supreme Court cases and educating myself on a variety of philosophers was a challenge that I gladly accepted. The reward was a deep respect and understanding of our nation's founders and amazing living documents.

My team spent a lot of time together after school, over vacations, and on weekends, and as a result, preparing for the competition had noncompetitive rewards. I made friends that I know I will stay in touch with for years. We have memories that will last forever and a sense of unity and accomplishment that can never be taken away.

My fellow panelists, or "colleagues," Dee and Jessy, became very close friends, and they made the "We the People" experience unforgettable. Our skills complemented one another. If one of us was scared, the others would act calmly, and if one of us was procrastinating, the others would somehow make the work seem interesting and easy.

By participating in this program, you are given the opportunity to change the lives of students. The impact you can make on our future leaders is tremendous. Mrs. Heffernan, through her dedication and passion for teaching, changed my outlook on life. Her love for the Constitution inspired all of us to work harder. Her confidence poured over and became our confidence.

Every year my high school, Lourdes Academy, does notably well at the national level; however, every year the students change and Mrs. Heffernan starts teaching all of the information as if it were the first year. My team started with hardly any knowledge of our Constitution. Not only did we have a lot to learn, but we were a team of individuals. We were fragmented and a lot of girls were lacking in confidence, dedication, and general interest. On top of this was a deeply rooted personal past that was unspoken but clearly evident. After Mrs. Heffernan discovered this, she had a new task: to make this un-united group of girls become friends and learn to cooperate. After some bonding and a general enlightened understanding of the feelings of one another, our team was unified and strong, and we owe all of that to an inspirational teacher. We were never too busy to make memories together, and we learned that individual leaders can make a great team.

The competitions at the district, state, and national levels also introduced my team to students from different areas of the country who offered us friendships and new and unique perspectives and experiences.

The competitions demanded a complete understanding of material. There was no room for any doubt. The unrehearsed follow-up questioning helped to develop self-confidence and quick, analytical thinking skills. While serious, this competition served as a bonding experience with my fellow teammates and my now-favorite teacher. We made learning fun and, with all the time we spent together, we became a family.

Preparing for this competition resulted in a balanced mix of leadership and teamwork. I gained knowledge and skills that I use every day as an American. The We the People competition taught me that our democratic government begs for participation and interest. As a young adult, I have learned what I can do to make a difference in the society in which I live. Learning about our Constitution fostered a new and exciting civic zeal within me. I became aware of my rights, gaining the confidence and understanding needed to stand up for my beliefs.

After participating in the We the People competition, I was given the opportunity to speak in front of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on the subject of youth and school violence. The competition, which serves as a mock Congressional hearing, definitely prepared me for this overwhelming experience. When I entered the hearing room, rather than being intimidated, I was anxious to get my views and ideas across. It was a very positive experience and I learned that our representatives actually do care about what the people are saying.

The We the People competition gave me the knowledge and awe of where I was, who was in the room with me, and what I was about to experience; I didn't feel ignorant or intimidated. I had a respect that cannot be described, and my previous experience with spontaneous follow-up questions prepared me in a more concrete and practical way to answer the questions of Chairman Henry Hyde and various other representatives. I was able to enjoy and take in what felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event because I was relaxed and prepared.

After the hearing, I told Mrs. Heffernan and my mother that the competition was actually more difficult then the real hearing could have been. The competition and Mrs. Heffernan more than just prepared me for the House Judiciary Committee; they prepared me to take and conquer all opportunities life gives to me. From various news interviews to Presidential ceremonies to simply attending college, I am now prepared to take any challenge that comes my way.

Programs like this are necessary to develop interested and caring citizens to carry our nation from one generation to the next. The competition taught me democracy is not a spectator sport. This program is something that will impact my life forever. It is not a course that has been brushed off or forgotten with graduation. It has been etched into our hearts and minds.