A Summer Spent SurveyingThe World Of Political Affairs

By Tanjua Damon

Jared Trillhaase, 16, a junior at Newtown High School, spent two weeks this summer gaining experiences in world affairs and government through two different adventures. Gwen Parks from the History Department at Newtown High School introduced Jared to both opportunities.

June 12 through June 16, Jared went to Whitewater, Wisconsin, to participate with 2,000 other students from Europe, South America, the United States, Canada, Asia, and the Caribbean Islands in the World Affair Seminar held at the University of Wisconsin. The Newtown Rotary Club sponsored his trip there.

“The way it was organized, there were four speakers every day,” Jared said. “Some you knew and some you didn’t. Ralph Nader from the Green Party spoke to us one day.”

Students who attended the World Affair Seminar have usually already graduated from high school or are in the final year of high school, according to Jared.

“It was exciting and a great honor,” he said. “I’m very grateful to the Newtown Rotary for sponsoring my trip.”

Meeting other students from all over the world was a highlight on the trip for Jared.

“What was really most interesting was that I got to meet so many people from all over the world,” he said. “There was an international panel each day where people would talk about their country’s problems. An El Salvador student struck me the most. The way she spoke was so dramatic. It really stuck with you.”

The international students in attendance at the seminar were exchange students, Jared said.

“I’m grateful I went. It was a great experience for me,” he said. “I’ve been in this situation before. I’ve been in an international situation so it was not really new for me. I always stress the importance of language.”

Jared spent four years in Germany. He currently takes French and Spanish at the high school and is privately tutored in German.

Junior Republicans

July 17 through July 22, Jared went on another trip to Washington, DC, for the Junior Republicans. In order to be picked for the trip, he had to write an essay, “If I had to meet a political leader who would it be?” Jared picked Margaret Thatcher.

“You don’t really see women in the kind of role she had as Prime Minister in America,” he said. “I thought it was really interesting she was a Prime Minister.”

While in DC, Jared stayed at Catholic University with 20 to 30 other Connecticut residents. The Newtown Republican Committee sponsored part of his trip.

“You learned how the government functions,” Jared said. “They emphasized becoming active when you are young. I had a really great time.”

Jared said both trips were great experiences and encouraged other students to participate in similar opportunities.

“Go for it because meeting people especially from other countries, it’s the best thing you can do,” he said. “In my opinion, you need people contact. It’s always been important to me to go up to someone and strike a conversation with him or her. I’m really happy for what I did.

Having the opportunity to attend events such as these has helped Jared realize that these experiences will always be a part of his future.

“I know my experiences this summer are beneficial for the long term,” Jared said. “You learn about culture and how people live. You realize, with some, that they don’t live that differently from you.”

Jared hopes to be able to use what he has experienced this summer in a future career.

“I’ve always wanted to be a movie star,” he said. “But with this past summer and living in Germany, the skills I have acquired will push me towards something international. Hopefully I’ll follow a career that uses my international skills.”

Jared is the son of Karsten and Debra Trillhaase of Newtown.