Salmon River student visits Washington, DC

Quinn Kawisakeron Armstrong, grade 7, was nominated and selected to attend a Congressional Youth Leadership Council in Washington DC last week.  He was quite happy when he learned about being selected to attend this very educational opportunity along with other students from across the nation.  Rachelle Hayes nominated him along with 9 other students who she thought might benefit from this opportunity because of their academic standing and character.  It was then up to their family to get the student there to attend.  With the assistance of our community, Quinn was able to go and he came home with so much to tell.

How do you think you were chosen?   

Quinn said, “It is because I always do my work, I don’t get sent to the principal’s office and I stay away from trouble.” As far as his studies went for the week he was away, he had to leave it all home because once he was there, he wouldn’t have the time to do homework.

“We were very busy everyday and they kept us busy all the time” he said.  An example of his daily routine was: get up, get showered and dressed, brush teeth and at 7 am eat breakfast.  After that he would attend the Focus Leadership Group where the students and advisors would plan out the day’s events.  Next, they would all quietly read a book and then take a field trip.  When they all returned, the students would work on group projects. His group chose a project to help disabled individuals.  Following group, it would be time to have dinner which was followed by another session with the focus group.  After a 10-minute break, they would gather into their focus groups and debrief about their day and discuss the next day.  After that they went to bed.

What did you like best about your trip?

“I liked learning more about team work and leadership each day.  The group got to visit many sights each day:  The White House, Harpers Ferry, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam War Veterans Memorial, American History Museum and the Maryland Science Center (where they got to sleep over)”, said Quinn.

Was there a part of the trip that you didn’t enjoy?

“It was probably the part about having to get up early and learning for a long time,” shared Quinn.

This was a rewarding opportunity for Quinn and it can be for other students as well. He would like to share some helpful advice to others while they attend school and to look at gaining those leadership skills in life:

 “Finish all your work, stay out of trouble, listen to your teachers, don’t give teachers a hard time, respect others that you work with and don’t pick on kids.”

This is very good advice coming from a young person who already practices what he says and look at where he has already been. I’m sure his family had a lot to do with that too...great job!

Quinn said he was the only Native American among the 123 scholars.  Other students asked him to say some Mohawk words for them and they asked if he came from a nation that has their own flag.  Proudly he showed a picture of the Confederacy Flag, which he took with him.  During an assembly on one of the days, the speaker announced “Today we have 123 of the top best leaders from this nation sitting in this auditorium.“ What an honor for Quinn to be one of them and to represent his family, school and Ahkwesahsne.  Congratulations Quinn!!

He would like to send thank you to his parents, Katrina and Dennis Armstrong, Mrs. Hayes, and to some of the businesses in the community for helping to make this trip possible.  His leadership adventure is something that is going to help guide him throughout his life and also strengthens his character.  When you see this young man, ask him about his trip.