
Forest
Park
High
School's
senior
class
had
a
unique
opportunity
to
welcome,
listen
to,
and
speak
with
sitting
Congressman
Gerry
Connolly.
Connolly
has
been
a
longtime
friend
to
the
Forest
Park
High
community,
attending
many
events
including
the
annual
suicide
prevention
walk,
and
was
enthusiastic
about
coming
to
discuss
what
mattered
most
to
the
students.
Connolly
fielded
questions
from
students
on
a
wide
range
of
topics
from
refugees
to
gun
control.
He
also
spoke
to
students,
encouraging
them
to
take
action
in
the
community.
One
student
asked
Connolly
to
describe
life
as
a
congressperson,
to
which
he
responded,
"It's
a
labor
of
love."
"Young
and
prospective
voter's
voices
are
just
as
important
as
anyone
else
and
they
need
to
be
heard
and
represented,"
shared
Connolly.
"I
love
interacting
with
young
people.
They're
candid
and
not
impeded
in
asking
the
questions
people
really
want
to
ask."
Senior
Malcolm
said,
"I
felt
this
was
a
very
educational
experience.
It
was
insightful
to
see
and
talk
to
the
congressman
face-to-face."
"I
think
it's
important
for
students
to
be
involved
in
government
because
it's
important
to
understand
how
it
works
or
what
they
can
do
to
change
things,"
shared
senior
Dejah.
Shannon
Geraghty,
social
studies
teacher
at
Forest
Park,
worked
with
her
colleagues
in
the
social
studies
department
to
plan
and
host
the
visit.
They
hope
this
is
the
first
of
many
"Democracy
in
Action"
visits
from
local
government
officials.