Oak Park student sets off to learn about government, leadership

Eamonn Carr

While most students are relaxing by the pool this holiday week, Oak Park High School junior Eamonn Carr is in Washington, D.C., learning about government and leadership. He was selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) from July 3 to July 13.

The NYLC is a unique leadership development program for high school students who’ve demonstrated leadership potential and scholarship merit.

Carr, who turns 16 in August, has done both.

He’s been involved in student government as far back as elementary school. Since he came to Oak Park from the East Coast five years ago, Carr’s been active and served as freshman class president at Oak Park High School. He currently is an Associated Student Union representative for the school’s parent-faculty club.

"I find politics very interesting because you get to work with other people … debate ... get other people’s ideas and have your eyes opened to other people’s beliefs," he said.

He’d considered going into politics as profession for a long time, but lately is considering a career in broadcast journalism. He ’ll meet with both politicians and reporters at the conference in Washington, where the theme of the event is "The leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today."

Throughout the 11-day conference, Carr will interact with key leaders and newsmakers from the three branches of government, the media and the diplomatic corps.

Highlights of the program include welcoming remarks from the floor of the United States House of Representatives and a panel discussion with prominent journalists at the National Press Club. Carr also will meet with his senators and representative or an appointed member of their staff to discuss important issues facing Oak Park and the nation.

"Scholars not only gain knowledge and experience in the nation’s capital, they leave with a sense of accomplishment and an increased ability to face the challenges of the future," said Michael Lasday, executive director of CYLC.

To complement these special meetings and briefings, Carr will participate in a number of leadership skill-building activities, such as role-playing the president and cabinet members responding to an international crisis.

They’ll also examine Supreme Court cases and conduct a mock court. The experience culminates in with a mock congress, in which students simulate the roles of representatives in passing legislation.

Carr said the students also are scheduled to discuss gun control and to visit the National Rifle Association.

Other activities include a tour of the White House, the Smithsonian Museum and the National Mall. He had hoped view fireworks on Independence Day.

One highlight, said Carr, was to be a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where he would visit the gravesite of John F. Kennedy and Tomb of the Unknowns. His student group will bring a new wreath and change the wreath left by previous students, he said.

To attend the NYLC, students must be nominated by teachers and faculty members for their leadership and scholarship.

Carr was nominated by Oak Park High School student government teacher Daisy Mastroianni, counselor Tess Wilcoss and assistant principal Patti Kokinos.

In addition to maintaining a grade point average of more than 4.0, Carr is very active in extracurricular activities and community work. He’s a member of the interact club, a community service group that works with the local Rotary Club. He does advanced peer counseling and participates in drama club.

In addition, he’s a member of Amnesty International, in which he discusses world issues and writes letters to government officials to free slaves and political prisoners. He also is a member of the Conejo-Las Virgenes Future Foundation and Inter-Community Student Council.

He’s an active parishioner of St. Maximilian Kolbe Church.

Even with all of his activities, Carr makes time to hang out with family and friends from school and church. He said he has learned to balance his time.

Although Carr likes "the community feeling of Oak Park," he also enjoys the excitement of New York City, where he hopes to attend Columbia University or New York University (NYU) after he graduates from Oak Park.

Carr’s family is also proud of him—parents Kevin and Eileen, twin brother and sister, Brendan and Caitlin, 14, and little brother, Declan, 7.