A Teen’s Take: Riley Stewart on campaigning for office
January 23, 2013
“Campaigning (for Junior Beta office) was a great experience for me. It allowed me to meet all sorts of new people. Also having to give a speech in front of 12,000 people really makes you feel like you can achieve anything if you try hard. Doing this speech also made me realize that if you don’t try, you can’t succeed.”
Age: 13
School: The Runnels School, eighth-grader in the fall
Parents: Mike and Martha-Carol Stewart
FAVORITES:
Book: “Divergent” by Veronica Roth
TV show: “Bones”
Music: “Firework” by Katy Perry
Hangout: “By the pool at my house.”
Role model: “The character Temperance Brennan (a forensic anthropologist on the TV series ‘Bones.’) Although she is fictional, she is an inspiration to women and girls all over. She shows that it is OK to be intelligent and kind to people. When she is out in the field with her partner and they are arresting a murderer, she shows courage that is a true inspiration.”
Extra: Stewart was elected Junior Beta state vice president at the organization’s annual convention held in the Lafayette Cajun Dome in May. Nearly 12,000 delegates from clubs across the state participated in the election. She also campaigned for national vice president, competing against eight other candidates and finishing in the top three. She also cheers, plays volleyball and is a member of the National Charity League.
William Taylor
Assistant People editor