Margaret Doria, daughter of former Mayor Joe Doria, has an infectious grin that wins people’s hearts the moment they see her. But she’s also smart and quick-witted, often able to respond on the spot to a challenge.
A student going into the 7th grade at Walter F. Robinson School, Margaret attended the 2011 Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. in June, one of 250 middle school students from across the United States.
Nominated by one of her teachers, Margaret reported back to the Bayonne Board of Education earlier this month on her experiences at the conference.
Themed “Voices of Leadership: Reflecting on the Past to Create the Future,” the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (Jr. NYLC) introduced young people to the rich tradition of leadership throughout American history, while helping them to develop their own leadership skills.
‘Every day we had a leadership focus group and learned how to respect each other and not say bad things.’ – Margaret Doria
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“The aim of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference is to inspire students to recognize their own leadership skills, measure their skills against those of current and former leaders and return home with new confidence in their ability to exercise positive influence within their communities,” said Marguerite Regan, Ph.D., Dean of Academic Affairs for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), the organization that sponsors Jr. NYLC. “Young people are not only welcome in Washington, D.C.; they actually keep this city and our country running.”
During the six-day program, Margaret and fellow students took part in educational activities and presentations and explored relevant sites, such as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia and Washington, D.C.’s museums and memorials.
In addition to examining notable U.S. leaders and historic figures, students studied the impact of leadership throughout critical periods of American history including the Civil War and Reconstruction, World War II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement. Upon completion of Jr. NYLC, students gain a greater sense of the role of individuals in American democracy, as well as the responsibilities of being a leader.
CYLC is a nonpartisan, educational organization. Since 1985, the council has inspired more than 200,000 young people to achieve their full leadership potential.
Margaret brought her scrap book of photographs to show board members, and said the six-day event was “awesome.”
“While the food was good, it wasn’t as good as we get in my school,” she said.
She said the days were long, but were stuffed with events such as visits to the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial, Harper’s Ferry, the Capital Building, the White House, and a number of other places.
“Every day we had a leadership focus group and learned how to respect each other and not say bad things,” she said. “We learned that if we make a promise, not to break it, and no matter where you live in the U.S., we have a common bond, which is that we love our country.”
She said a lot of the lessons were about respect and doing the right thing.
A member of the student council and the school choir at Robinson School, Margaret has represented her class in functions at school. She is also involved in the Girl Scouts, and during her term on Student Council was involved in raising money for disaster victims in Haiti and Japan.
She said the highlight of the conference was being a young leader and taking charge.
School Business Administrator Leo Smith said Margaret had undergone a tough schedule at the conference.
“I don’t think too many people in this room could have done it,” he said,
To which Doria responded, “Well, I take my daily vitamins.”
Board President Will Lawson, with a nod to former Mayor Doria in the audience during the presentation, said, “It wasn’t too long ago that your dad was out early until late at night, now he’s home and you’re out until late. Great job.”
Former Mayor Doria just gave a knowing nod.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.