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The Woodlands High School offers a plethora of different opportunities for students, on the local, state, and national level. Located in Seguin, Texas at Texas Lutheran University, is one such event, Girls State. Girls State is a state level event in which students further their knowledge on citizenship and government. And, The Woodlands High School sent a top delegate to the competition this year, Alex Hant. 

Upon arrival at Girls State, the girls were separated into two parties, federalist and nationalist, forming mock political parties; in which Hant was a federalist. They then formed their own mock Texas government in which individuals would run for office and elect each other for these positions. In these elections, Hant ran for both attorney general and house party whip, but lost in runoffs for both; however, she was later elected by those already in office. The elections, in the end, had resulted in the nationalists having obtained every seat except for the governorship, which the federalists had won. 

On top of mock elections, they also held regular debates in which they would write and propose their own legislation, with everything that was debated nominated by students. In the debates Hant was the first person to propose debate on a bill, “It was something that was traditionally accepted by Gen Z people and I was like, well I’ll just negate it.” Hant said, and on top of that, she would speak up in every single debate session. 

Alex, despite speaking in every session, only wrote two bills. One of the bills was for housing vouchers for homeless people, as well as a special order bill which was for compulsory voting; with only the housing voucher bill being passed.

Girls state can also provide the opportunity to attend Girls Nation-a fully paid for trip to Washington D.C.-which is similar to Girls State, but it is composed of two girls from each state. For Texas, Alex Hant and Contessa Barron, a student from Dallas, were chosen as our representatives. 

Overall, Girls State is an extraordinary opportunity that many haven’t heard of, but something that should be highly sought after.