By Delaney Thompson
Being a shy and anxious person, I was nervous about the thought of attending Missouri Girls State. Living within our own city for a week with complete strangers sounds pretty….uncomfortable. The MGS staff made arrival and registration run smoothly and at ease.
As I began to meet the amazing girls in Cronin City, I felt at home. These girls are silly, outgoing, passionate, and not afraid to stand out. We all worked well for creating our mascot, chants, city colors, and how we wanted to effectively function as a city.
I am not usually one to speak in front of a crowd, meet new people, or even share my views or opinions, but these girls inspired me to make the most of our week at Girls State. I started by running for a Cronin City Chair Committee. Although I did not get the position, I was selected for the Dewitt County Chair Committee and elected as Dewitt County Clerk. This position was incredibly important to me because my mother, Diane Thompson, is the first female County Clerk for Johnson County where MGS is held.
This experience has encouraged me to break out of my shell and put myself out there. I could not be more grateful for this experience and everything Cronin City has taught me. Thinking back to the first day, I would not have imagined making so many soon-to-be lifelong friends.