Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Nick Rizzo
Jasper High School rising senior Lucy Fields will represent Alabama in Washington, D.C., this summer after being selected for Girls Nation, a prestigious civic leadership program hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary.
Held each July, the weeklong program brings together two delegates from each state to participate in a mock federal government, draft and debate legislation, meet with elected officials, and explore civic leadership on a national level.
Lucy earned the opportunity during Alabama Girls State, where delegates operated mock local and state governments. Each of the program’s “cities” selected one nominee to interview for Girls Nation, while the elected Girls State governor advanced automatically, creating a sizable pool of candidates.
Surrounded by students she considered highly accomplished, Lucy did not expect to hear her own name announced.
“The girls in my city had to tell me to stand up and go to the stage because I was just sitting there with my mouth open,” she says. “Then I started crying.”
The honor builds upon an interest in leadership and civic engagement that Lucy has developed throughout high school. She has served as class president during each of her first three years at Jasper High School and says public service appeals to her because it can give communities a voice.
“If you’re in government, you can represent a community that otherwise might not have a voice or a say,” she says. “Being able to step up and be that person is really interesting to me.”
At Girls State, Lucy was elected mayor of her city on the program’s first day. Leading city meetings, helping delegates connect, and supporting other students as they campaigned for office were among the week’s most meaningful experiences for her.
She entered the program with guidance from Jasper High School alumni Katie Adams and Prestley Skelton, who represented Alabama at Girls Nation last year. Lucy says the two served as mentors, helping her understand what to expect while keeping her grounded throughout the process.
At Girls Nation, Lucy will present legislation inspired by a bill she developed at Girls State. Her proposal would direct 3% of the federal Title I funding received by qualifying schools toward artificial intelligence education for students and teachers.
“AI isn’t going to stop, and it isn’t going to slow down,” Lucy says. “Everybody is going to have to learn to live with it in a safe and knowledgeable way.”
Lucy says AI literacy involves more than teaching students how to use emerging technology. It also means helping them avoid becoming dependent upon it or allowing it to replace their own critical-thinking skills.
That emphasis on responsible service reflects the leadership example she has seen at home. Both of Lucy’s parents have worked in education, and she says watching her mother serve as a school principal helped shape her understanding of what leadership should look like.
“Being a leader doesn’t mean simply getting a title,” Lucy says. “It means that you get to serve others while you do it.”
In Washington, Lucy is especially eager to meet Girls Nation senators from across the country, learn how they lead, and hear their perspectives on issues affecting their communities.
Although she acknowledges feeling nervous about meeting students whose experiences may seem broader than her own, she is equally proud to demonstrate that a student from a smaller Alabama city belongs on a national stage.
“Seeing that somebody from Jasper can serve as a representative on a national level is really cool,” she says. “Being able to put such a great city as Jasper into people’s minds is really exciting.”
Lucy hopes Girls Nation will help clarify what she wants to pursue after high school while strengthening the way she approaches the leadership roles she already holds. Most importantly, she wants to return to Jasper better prepared to listen, consider perspectives different from her own, and serve others with humility.
The Walker Leader congratulates Lucy on this milestone and wishes her the best as she heads to our nation’s capital! WL
