When growing up, one always dreams about what they want to be when they are older. Whether it’s a firefighter, the president of the United States, or a princess. Everyone wants to know what their occupation is going to be after college. This became a reality for one particular student, Isabelle Miller. Over the years, she wondered what she was going to become, but as she grew older, she decided to go into politics.
This year, Miller was granted the opportunity to become a Senate Page at the capitol in Des Moines. A Senate Page is someone who assists the senators with daily tasks around the capitol building. This could consist of managing Zoom technology, delivering mail, or any other tasks the senators could think of. She heard about this opportunity from someone who was a Senate Page themselves and decided to apply back in September of 2024. After she applied, she got to meet them in Washington D.C. and was thrilled to hear that she was accepted into the program. Miller is currently living in Des Moines where she gets to work with senators who help make decisions on bills, taxes, voting, etc. regarding the state. But she also has to navigate her regular life as a high school student. Miller is involved in many different activities. “I’m involved in volleyball, golf, the speech team, student senate, show choir, choir, the National Council on Youth Leadership (NCYL), and I also serve as a student ambassador. Outside of school, I teach piano lessons,” said Miller. While accepting this internship as a page, Miller has had to adapt to a different lifestyle, which meant having to forgo participating in certain school activities. She can come back on the weekends for show choir competitions and any other of her activities on Fridays. Miller has been able to stay active in show choir, where she gets to perform a solo, but due to her schedule is unable to attend student senate meetings and play golf in the spring. This brought her great sadness, but a life-changing opportunity arose from it.
Even though this has taken up a lot of time with Miller’s schedule, she has received nothing but endless support from everyone. Whether it is family, friends, or educators everyone is extremely proud of this accomplishment. “My parents are incredibly proud and supportive of me. They’ve encouraged me to take on new opportunities and pursue my goals, always cheering me on. Their constant support and belief in me means so much, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” said Miller. This has given her a drive that has helped her figure out what she would like to do in the future.
While getting to live in the capital city, she has gained many new perspectives through the internship. “It’s an incredible opportunity to network with senators, getting involved in the government, and see firsthand how legislation is passed. It helps me stay motivated and more informed about current events, especially with the changes happening under the new presidency and how they impact our state,” said Miller. This has given her a new understanding of how the government works within the state. Miller will get a hands-on experience of what her future in politics could look like and the path it could take her on.
