By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
More than 500 girls from across Ohio gained new understandings about government and its processes in the weeklong Buckeye Girls State that wrapped up Saturday at Bowling Green State University.
In addition to learning about city, county and state governments, the rising high school seniors forged new, possibly lifelong, friendships through the sessions, opportunities and collaborations.
The connections were felt in the spirited atmosphere of the general sessions as the girls cheered, chanted and rallied for their new colleagues who were serving in elected positions, singing in the choir, performing in the band or accomplishing a task.
“Being elected governor of Buckeye Girls State has made me appreciate the true meaning of ‘It takes a village,” said Nadia Watts-Jackson during her Inaugural address on Thursday. “I’ve learned that a state run alone is no state at all.”
Watts-Jackson of Canton was elected as the Federalist candidate. She stumped on an education platform, influenced by her mother’s work in a school district. The BGS governor’s vision is to provide opportunities through such programs as financial literacy to help prepare students for adulthood and any path they choose outside of high school.
Because she is a firm believer that the mind and body are connected. She advocated for robust mental health systems, ensuring there are counselors for everyone, and specifically for those individuals in military service.
“I had the privilege to discuss, collaborate and establish with many of you what the future holds for our great state. We have seen increased issues surrounding food waste and the overall health of our planet,” she said. With that as a major concern voiced by her constituents, she urged each city at Girls State to incorporate composting to promote a more sustainable ecosystem.
She also asked the city, county and department officials to encourage families to help reduce the number of children in foster care citing more than 16,000 children in the state system with roughly 1,700 licensed foster families.
“I would like to rewrite that narrative for the state to strengthen the support system for foster children who are in need,’ she said.
Watts-Jackson said the opportunity changed her life more than she imagined. She thanked American Legion Auxiliary Unit 204 for sponsoring her and the entire 2023 Buckeye Girls State class for allowing her to serve as governor and
“To the Federalist Party, you are all my rock, you contributed to the immense amount of positivity for my campaign,” she said. The mythical Conrad County was her safe space and Withrow City became her new family and home.
She also thanked colleagues Kaia Woolfe and Nishka Mishira for inspiring her “to go my hardest and for influencing me to push past my comfort zone.”
Charles Stennis, district commander of the American Legion of Ohio, said the relationships they build during the week are an important part of the experience. He described the periodic world of them participating in Girls State for the week and then going home to their families.
“The perpetual world is what you learn here and how it will pay dividends in the future. Go together in your sisterhood,” Stennis said.
