Q: How did you first learn about the U.S. Senate Page Program, and what inspired you to apply?
Whitney Kelly: I came across the Page Program while I was in middle school trying to find different summer activities centered around learning about how the government functions. Although I couldn’t apply then, I have been somewhat obsessed with the program, and so as soon as I could apply at the end of sophomore year, I was very ready!

Q: What did a typical day look like for you while participating in the program?
WK: During the week, our mornings began around 6:30 when we would wake up, put on our suits, and get ready for work. All 30 pages would then walk the two blocks to the Capitol, where we would split into our shifts of either Democrat- or Republican-sponsored pages.

I was sponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin. Each morning, I would report to the Democratic Cloakroom, a room that was reserved for pages and senators of the aligning party.

From there, all the pages in my shift would head to the Senate Floor, where we would sit on the rostrum, the steps located in front of the Presiding Officer and other legislative staff members’ seats. While working, we would help with a myriad of tasks, including setting up senators’ desks, collecting their speeches, tracking how each senator voted, and delivering papers and other things throughout the Senate. We would work until roughly 4 pm or whenever the Senate adjourned, whichever was later. After work, we would return to our dorms to change out of our uniforms before heading out with other pages. We would walk around Washington, D.C., exploring different museums, monuments, and restaurants in our free time.

One highlight from my time in D.C. was our last day of work, when the Senate didn’t adjourn until 11:45 pm. That day was particularly busy, and because there were so many votes, I got to see the Senate Chamber at its busiest, filled with most of the Senators as they waited to cast their vote. It was very interesting to see the Senators conversing with each other, especially because they were even talking and laughing with politicians from across the aisle, a rarity most days!

Q: How does attending DSHA help prepare you for this opportunity?
WK: This past year I took AP U.S. Government and Politics, where I learned a lot from [Social Studies Faculty Patrick] Dawson about how the government functions, with a particular emphasis on Senate procedure.

Because of Mr Dawson’s class, as I sat on the Senate Floor during my first day of work, I felt very prepared knowing I already understood much about Senate procedure and what was required for each vote to pass. In turn, this allowed me to serve in more difficult positions early on as a page, and by the second day I was already tasked with recording the votes of each Senator and calling in the results to the Democratic Cloakroom.

Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this program, and how has this experience impacted your academic, career, or personal goals moving forward?
WK: The U.S. Senate Page Program was a monumental experience because it gave me a front-row view of American democracy, allowing me to participate in the legislative process even if only in small ways. Being able to witness the Senate up close has given me hope for the future of our country and inspired me to pursue a career in public policy so that I too can make a difference through public service.

Furthermore, the program is very unique in that it brings together high schoolers from across the United States, students from completely different walks of life, who would otherwise never meet each other. Not only that, but it allows them to form their political opinions by considering new ideas from new people, all while surrounded by some of the most important politicians and while living in the political epicenter of the United States.