MVEC-sponsored student Nora Doerr of Le Sueur joined more than 2,100 students from 44 states for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., the largest Youth Tour in the program’s history. Along with 34 fellow Minnesota delegates, Nora spent a week exploring the nation’s capital, learning about electric cooperatives, public service and leadership.
“I had so much fun on this trip,” Nora said. “The history and behind-the-scenes stories from Washington, D.C., were really cool. But what I wasn’t expecting was to get so close with everyone. I already miss them and can’t wait to see some of them again.”
The experience brought history to life in ways that a classroom never could.
“Everything in D.C. is so much different in person,” Nora said. “It’s bigger, and there’s meaning behind everything. Even the monuments have hidden stories and details that represent something important.”
Meeting students from across the country was another highlight.
“It was crazy how small some of the towns other students came from,” she said. “But it was cool to hear how people can make real change in their communities. In some places, your voice can be even louder because there are so few people.”
Nora encourages other students to apply for the opportunity.
“I’d definitely recommend this trip to underclassmen,” she said. “It’s so much fun getting to learn about our country’s history and electric cooperatives, and getting to know students from around Minnesota and across the country was a great experience.”
Check out some highlights from Nora’s week in Washington, D.C., in the gallery below.
