Revisiting the Page and Messenger Program at the Florida Capitol
The Florida Page and Messenger Program is a program that gives both middle and high school students the opportunity to serve Florida’s legislators in the Florida Capitol. The program is very selective, so to be chosen even once is truly an accomplishment that very few can put on their resume. However, I have been blessed to have been picked not only last year, but this year as well.
Through this experience, I learned many things, including that no matter how many times you do something, there will always be new things to experience and learn. When I attended the program again this year, so many things had changed that I could never have anticipated. During my time there, my sister and I were sponsored and hosted by Representative Tom Fabricio and his fantastic family.
During the program, we took a tour of the Florida Historic Capitol, a tour that I also took last year. In the Capitol, a staff member came and spoke to us about the history of the Capitol. One of the pieces of information we learned in particular was that the building had actually been scheduled to be demolished in the late 1970s, after the recent construction of the 22-story Capitol building (which we had the opportunity to visit).
Many advocated to save it through forms of protest such as letter-writing campaigns and rallies. The Florida Legislature then voted to save the building, which is now a historical landmark that many visit and request tours of. This valuable piece of history was something I don’t remember being mentioned last year, and if I hadn’t gone again, I would have missed out.
When you go on your own journey and discover information along the way, it’s so different from just going on Google and being given the answer. Joining the program shows student initiative to look to learn, which is a skill many students are lacking, especially since the start of the AI wave. The drive to want to learn is also a drive many students no longer have due to the stress of school.
It was amazing to be able to see the Historic Capitol Building with my sister by my side this time, being able to experience a life-changing opportunity together. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked to be on this journey with anyone else.
Although most of the things we did remained the same, what I took away from it did not. Sometimes, experiencing something one time isn’t enough. You have to keep trying at it to see if there might be more. The history of the Legislature will never change, but the deep lessons those living can take with them change every time.
My sponsor Representative Fabricio was kind enough to invite thew entire family to tour the chambers where we had the opportunity to take pictures, keeping memories that will forever live on.
Author’s Note: To keep things honest, I couldn’t have been able to do this without God, for he blessed me far beyond what I could have ever known. I thank him, my family, and my friends for this amazing opportunity to once again serve our state government, making this year’s experience better than the last!
Find last year’s article on the Page and Messenger program here.
