Being involved in so many extracurricular activities can be time consuming but for Windham junior Na’Zya Henderson, it is also a great way to stay connected with the community. Henderson will have a chance to demonstrate what Windham is all about after being selected to represent her school at the Buckeye Girls State Program, a mock local state government educational program, from June 9 through June 16 at Bowling Green State University.
“I am excited but nervous at the same time because it is something new, but I am ready for the experience and glad to take it on, meet new people and actually be open to the ideas of others and see how everyone else thinks about the government,” Henderson told The Weekly Villager on April 16.
As The Weekly Villager previously reported, Windham High School was already sending two male students, Nathan Mosier and Kyle Lesko, to the Buckeye Boys State Program in the same week, which will take place at Miami University in Oxford, but now will have a representative on each side of the educational program.
Henderson was selected among four applicants and is being sponsored by the Windham American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Group. If Henderson cannot attend the event, an alternate will be selected from Windham to take her place.
According to social studies teacher Stephanie Parish Smith, it marks the first time in her 12-year teaching tenure at Windham that the school will send a female student to the Buckeye Girls State.
In her eyes, Henderson represents the best of what Windham has to offer.
“She is what we stand for,” she said. “She is motivated. She is reliable and her attendance is good. She is always involved in many extracurriculars and is always hands-on when it comes to community service. I would consider her a lifelong learner. She is constantly challenging herself and she represents us from academics to athletics.”
In addition to being named to the National Honor’s Society, Henderson also competes in varsity softball, participates on the cheerleading squad, sings in the school choir and is also a member of Windham’s chapter of the NAACP.
Parish Smith said that after Mosier and Lesko were selected to participate in the Buckeye Boys State program, the Windham American Legion Post 674 reached out to her to tell her that they wanted to also send a female student from Windham through the Women’s Auxiliary Post.
Given Henderson’s stellar reputation in and out of the classroom, Parish Smith said she was a natural fit for this opportunity.
While being excited for Henderson to have been selected for this opportunity, Parish Smith said she is hopeful this is the beginning of a trend that will see Windham send male and female students to both Buckeye State Programs in the future.
Henderson said that when it comes to government policy, she has a unique viewpoint, given her experience with Windham’s NAACP, and sees a lot that needs to be changed.
“When I hear a lot of the opinions of my peers, sometimes I believe they are questionable,” she acknowledged. “Seeing how there are a lot of things being changed in our government now involving the laws like abortion rights and all of that stuff, I still believe there are things that need to be dealt with.”
Henderson said she has considered pursuing a career in government administration but has also thought about becoming a writer for the government or a business career. Attending the Buckeye Girls State Program will give her a glimpse of what a career working in government affairs looks like.
While there, Henderson will participate in a mock government and be given the option to run for office, with the governor’s seat being the highest position she can try for. She will be given an opportunity to create a platform for her campaign. She will also be presented with different situations to troubleshoot by brainstorming solutions.
“They will give her different roles and she will participate in meeting guest speakers, different people , from politicians to whomever they bring in, and different social events as well,” Parish Smith noted.
As much as Henderson is looking forward to experiencing the dynamics of working in government, she also sees this as an opportunity to prepare for the real world.
“Once I turn 18, I am considered an adult; I have to take on responsibilities that I would not be taking on now. It is always great to get into it now rather than wait,” she said.
