Note: Kristina Biddle, a student at Saint Mark’s High School in Wilmington, was sponsored by Senator Chris Coons during her semester in the prestigious Senate Page Program.
It was mid-August and I was preparing for my junior year at St. Mark’s High School when I received the call that I had been appointed as Senator Coons’ first United States Senate Page. Before I knew it, my car was packed and I was headed to Washington D.C. I knew I would be waking up at five in the morning, going to school, and working on the Senate floor. Little did I know that I would be attending three joint sessions, having conversations with Senators, and making friends and experiences that would last a lifetime.
During our first week we had to learn all the names and faces of the Senators. I remember all of the Pages sitting in the lobby with our flashcards trying earnestly to make sure we knew every Senator like the back of our hand. We soon learned that we would be sitting on the rostrum each day ready to get the call to run our next errand. Our tasks included getting water and podiums for the Senators, riding the subway to the various buildings delivering papers, going on amendment and roll call runs, and so much more. Our every move was televised because we were on CSPAN every day.
Three days after arriving, we were fortunate enough to attend a rare joint session of Congress where President Obama presented his Jobs Bill. Walking from the Senate Chamber to the House Chamber is an experience itself with all the reporters talking and taking pictures of the Senators and Representatives. We also attended two other joint sessions of Congress. The second one we attended, we heard the President of South Korea speak in the House Chamber. His story was inspiring and we listened through headphones and read the speech to understand what he was saying. The last joint session and my favorite was the State of the Union. We sat in the lobby and saw the spouses of the Senators walking in and out and we felt star struck! We heard the President speak for the second time about his outline for his legislative agenda. How rare to attend our first joint session the first week upon arriving, and our last joint session the week we were departing.
One of my favorite aspects of being a Page was being able to sit and listen to the Senators give speeches. We sat just a few feet away from the debates which were being broadcast all over the country. We heard speeches about the payroll tax cuts and other important matters to our country. One particular day that remains vivid was when the Senate continued its session well into the night, with seemingly endless votes. Although we were tired by the time the Senate adjourned at 2:30 a.m., witnessing the Senate carrying out its work with such perseverance was surreal. We soaked up each new day, learning what cannot be taught in any classroom, with an ever-growing curiosity.
We understood that being a Page had incomparable perks. Namely, the Capitol was our office! Wearing our blue suits, Page pins, and Senate ID’s granted us access to anywhere within the Capitol. We loved walking past signs that said “Senators Only” or “This Corridor is Closed.”
Another bonus was when a celebrity was in the building. I was able to meet Harrison Ford which was exciting. Although we did not meet them, we heard legendary astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and John Glenn give speeches in the Rotunda. Some of us were also lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Bono.
Some of our field trips were very exciting too. My favorites included the annual Army-Navy Game. There were a few previous Pages in attendance who currently attend either the Naval Academy or West Point. We went to the Kennedy Center to see “Billy Elliot,” the Newseum, a college tour of Georgetown University, as well as Williamsburg and Jamestown. We also had many educational field trips to places such as Mount Vernon, Lincoln’s cottage, and even the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol during the Civil War period was of particular interest to me. A tour of the dome where we stood at the very top of the Rotunda and the outside portion of the top of the Capitol’s dome was unforgettable. The sights including views outside the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and all of the surrounding monuments were breathtaking.
A day that was one of my personal favorites was December 7th, Delaware Day – the day that Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The Senators from Delaware invited us to come to a celebration for Delaware Day which included some of Delaware’s most popular restaurants. It was exciting for me to show my fellow Pages some of the things that make Delaware great.
Another part of being a Page was attending the Page School. School began promptly at 6:15 a.m. The teachers sacrificed their own time and were there at 5:30 each day to provide us with any help we needed. The length of each class depended on what time the Senate was going into session that day. Therefore, we could have fifty minute periods or just fifteen minute periods. No matter how short or long the periods, they made sure they filled in each minute with teaching new information. The school teachers had high expectations of us and were always willing to help us as much as we needed them. They challenged us to our greatest potential. My math teacher also came into school on Sundays to help those of us who were musicians. It really meant a lot to us knowing that they were willing to help us in our interests outside of school.
Being a Page is a unique experience that only thirty teenagers get to do for a semester. The students here are different from the typical American teenager. This group wanted more than the average high school experience. The Senate Page Program offered us the adventure we were looking for with its demanding schedule and numerous unknowns. A common quality within this select group was the driving force of curiosity in every aspect of our lives. Because we came from all parts of the country, there were many differences that we naturally carry with us. These differences are what make us interesting and interested in one another. I know that we are all connected through the Page experience and we will always be connected for the rest of our lives.
I am filled with extreme gratitude to Senator Coons for sponsoring me throughout this exceptional journey.