By:Nick Buglione
In a little over a week, the East Meadow High School student, who is entering her junior year, will head to a conference in Washington, D.C., where she will meet the leaders of today and hone the skills that may one day make her a leader of tomorrow.
Sekaran was chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference, which is sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. It's a 10-day program at which exceptional students from across the country meet with a variety of people from the three branches of government, the news media and the international community.
"I was really excited to be picked," said Sekaran, who learned she had been selected for the conference in the spring. "I definitely wanted to go right away. It meant a lot to me."
She was unaware that East Meadow High School faculty had nominated her to attend. But if anyone deserves to go, it's Sekaran. An active student in and out of the classroom, she was Key Club secretary this past year and will be its vice president in the upcoming one. She was a reporter for the school newspaper, the Jet Gazette, and has been promoted to editor. Possessing a passion for music and dance, Sekaran plays violin in the school orchestra and has been trained in Indian classical dance. She made her solo debut in the art before 500 invited guests two years ago. This summer she will take part in the chamber music festival at LIU-C.W. Post.
Ever since Sekaran was a child, she has thought of herself as a leader. "Always, since I was young, I've wanted to make a difference and help people," she said, "and to learn what's important to be a leader."
While in high school, she has served as a peer leader in the World of Difference program, in which older students visit the East Meadow district elementary schools to talk about the evils of prejudice and discrimination.
Sekaran will arrive in the nation's capitol for the Young Leaders conference on Aug. 2, and will remain until Aug. 12. There, she and some 350 other young scholars will discuss important national issues with prominent elected officials.
In addition to the special meetings, Sekaran will participate in a number of leadership-skill-building workshops and simulations, including one entitled "If I Were President." "They give you a scenario and ask what you would do if you were the president," she explained.
Students also take part in "Testing the Constitution," in which they examine Supreme Court cases. The conference culminates with a mock Congress in which the students assume the roles of U.S. Representatives and debate, amend and vote on mock legislation.
"We often hear from members of Congress, political appointees and members of Washington's press corps that it is a privilege to meet and interact with students like Ramya Sekaran, because they are the face of our country's future," said Mike Lasday, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.
The council was founded in 1985 to inspire students to achieve their leadership potential. "What these students learn at the National Young Leaders Conference will enable them to build coalitions with one another and exercise their own leadership skills within communities around the country," Lasday said.
Though she's not sure what she will eventually study in college or what career path she'll take, Sekaran said the idea of working in the United Nations has always appealed to her. Regardless of where she winds up, she looks forward to the future.
"I have a lot of faith in my generation," she said. "We are all capable of great things."
