Seeking real solutions to nation's real problems

When I first heard about the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, it was a match made in heaven. I can remember thinking to myself, two weeks with other kids that like politics just as much as I do, what more could I ask for? Little did I know that my two weeks at the Sorensen Institute’s High School Leaders program would exceed all expectations that I had ever had.

During the second week of class, our second professor, Steve Bragaw, discussed a few things that, for me, sums up what I learned at Sorensen. The first was that effective leadership means understanding what motivates you and what motivates those around you. The second, dealing with the first, is how does a person define themselves? Lastly, that compromise does not always mean giving up what you believe in, but rather fighting until the very end to get what you think is right accomplished in the best way.

As the two weeks rapidly moved, I began to understand just what motivated those who were around me, whether it was ambition, religion, or simply that want to do good in their community. My 25 classmates were highly motivated people. More than that though, I learned what exactly motivates myself, the desire to seek answers to the questions that I have in my journey for more knowledge.

I also realized that everyone feels that they belong to something larger than themselves. For some it was their family, others their schools and communities, still for others it was a certain political party. While each and everyone of us felt that we belonged to something different, we all had one thing in common; whatever it was that we did identify ourselves with, we were constantly striving to make it better.

A piece of advice that one of my role models once gave me was to keep fighting the good fight. Something that Sorensen taught me is that it does not matter if you do not necessarily agree with everyone on everything, because we most certainly did not agree on most things, but what is important is that you are constantly striving for the end goal. If you get to the finish line first, but on the way there gave up everything you believed in to appease everyone else, was it really worth getting there first? You have to fight until the very end and hope that the decision that you have come to is beneficial for all those that will be affected by it.

As I reflect back on my time at Sorensen, I think about all of the amazing people that I have met, and all the amazing things that I learned. Most of all though, I think about the responsibility that has now been given to me to make sure that there is open dialogue not based on party lines, but real solutions to real problems.

Johnston graduated from the Sorensen Institute’s High School Leaders program class of 2010 on July 24 after graduating in June from Tunstall High School. She is a rising freshman at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton.