Knightly News

This summer I had the honor of attending the American Legion Auxiliary's Girls State and Girls Nation program. These programs are amazing opportunities for rising seniors to immerse themselves in so many different facets of our governmental processes, such as undergoing elections and creating/debating legislation. As a very active participant in Louisiana's Youth and Government program, I was ecstatic to get the opportunity to further educate myself on the world of politics and see just how many things go into the functioning of our government on both the local, state, and national levels.

At Girls State, I ran for and was elected to the coveted position of Parish Communications Officer, allowing me to contribute to the program by preparing daily news updates, formulating a Girls State 2024 newsletter, and sharing a personal article to give advice to future Girls State participants. The week was so eventful and it was extremely inspiring to be surrounded by hundreds of unique, talented girls from all around our state. I made many long-lasting friendships in one of the most supportive environments I've ever had the privilege of being a part of and at the end of the week I was honored to be chosen as my parish's Outstanding Citizen in addition to being chosen as one of two girls selected to represent Louisiana nationally at Girls Nation. 

Serving as a Girls Nation senator in Washington D.C. was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. Girls Nation is comprised of two senators from every single state in the nation, allowing a beautiful diversity that allowed me to learn so much about the cultures and political atmospheres around America. In my opinion, Girls Nation is so transformative because of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences it offers to participants. For example, I was able to not only visit the White House but also hear Vice-President Kamala Harris speak on the White House lawn. Another highlight of the week was going to Capitol Hill and meeting with Senator Bill Cassidy and a legislative correspondent for Senator John Kennedy, in addition to seeing prominent Congressmen like Mitch McConnell speak in the Senate chambers. 

Through Girls State and Girls Nation, I was able to better understand not only government but also differing and unique political beliefs and perspectives. My experiences at these programs also helped me develop more confidence going into my other summer programs, such as the YMCA's Conference on National Affairs, where I debated my proposal on extending citizenship to American Samoa up to the final round of debate, making up the top 40 proposals out of 600 brought nationally, in addition to my work serving on Louisiana's Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) where I was able to discuss politics with several prominent Louisiana politicians including Governor Jeff Landry. All in all, my summer experiences have inspired me to further explore the world of politics in college and beyond, taking necessary steps to better our nation. 

Miniya Malone is an Episcopal senior. She enjoys participating in Youth Leg, Model United Nations, International Thespian Society, Select Choir, Quiz Bowl, and Mu Alpha Theta, where she serves as Tournament Director. She has served on the YMCA Youth and Government State Board as House Floor Leader. 

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.