American Legion Girls State is a prestigious program dedicated to providing young women with an immersive experience in the workings of government and the responsibilities of citizenship.

Held annually, this week-long event allows high school juniors to engage in a simulated government setting, where they can run for office, draft and debate legislation, and participate in civic activities. The program aims to educate and inspire future leaders by fostering a deeper understanding of the democratic process and encouraging active participation in community and government affairs.

Recently, local senior Aali- yah Alexander of Okmulgee had the honor of attending this esteemed program. Below is a piece she has written herself, reflecting on her experiences and the insights she gained during her time at American Legion Girls State.

Hi! My name is Aaliyah Alexander and I got the privilege to attend Girls State 2024 in May at the UCO campus. They managed to split 375 girls into groups of 20 or so, and we stayed for a week. While there, we got to create a mock government that makes actual bills to pass. The bills that were passed were sent to the House. We had many known Oklahoma leaders come and talk to us and do activities with us! We got the privilege to talk to George Neigh, give speeches, and campaign, and have a graduation as well but most importantly I made friends and had a great time with the girls within my group.

Thanks to the American Legion I learned so many new things I never knew about other people, the government, Oklahoma as a whole, and even myself.

I’m so thankful for this experience I’ve been blessed with, and will continue to carry the knowledge I gained into my adulthood.

Believe it or not I was a little nervous before going to Girls State, but thanks to my family I was super prepared. Every day at Girls State was something new. I was motivated to step out of my comfort zone by not only my friends and also the staff. Girls state gave me the confidence to voice my opinion no matter what and always give it your all! Its an experience I’m very grateful for and will never ever forget.