“American Government is one of the only classes I can think of in high school that I would look forward to going to every day. I would think to myself, ‘Cool, I get to go to government today. I get to examine my beliefs and try to convince people of something I believe in.’ I wanted to do it and I felt like I was learning at the same time.”

“The Legislative Semester had such an impact on what I’d like to do with my life. It is probably one of the best learning experiences outside of student teaching I’ve ever had. The course really got me into politics and government, and as a result, I will be attending law school next year.”

“With everyday, I remember less and less of my high school. What I do remember are the events most important to my memories and identity formation. For me, the Legislative Semester is a lasting memory—and an affirmation of something I wasn’t so sure I believed—that I could make a difference, become a better person...a better citizen. To explain how this curriculum changed me would be to rob it of its lasting gift—a gift only the ones who experience it take away.”

“With the Legislative Semester students were not doing work for points or grades. We worked as hard as we did because we cared about our issues. The issues were deeper than grades; they were personal. Probably what made people’s speeches and issues so good is that they WEREN’T doing them for grades. It was YOUR issue, YOUR Legislative Semester, and for that reason, students wanted it to be good.”

“Students were so into the Legislative Semester. They wanted to make good decisions in terms of leadership. Students wanted this to be good because it was THEIRS. I have so much respect for all the students in the Legislative Semester because they made decisions that were smart and beneficial for the Full Session and the Committee Hearings because we wanted to see it succeed.”

“I love that we get to decide to delve deeper into whatever we choose, and that WE write the bills, WE lead the sessions, WE decide which topics to talk about. Legislative Semester has completely changed my views about government and politics in general, and it is probably the one class that I will remember after high school. I would recommend making this class universal throughout the US.”