by Jennifer Goebel

On December 13, 2007, a phone call to our house from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s office brought the news that she had appointed me to be a U.S. Senate Page.  Life from then on was a whirlwind of events that became a dizzying blur.  My last week in Plano consisted of semester exams at Plano West followed by a going-away party thrown by friends and family on Thursday.  Friday and Saturday were spent dancing in the remaining three performances of Plano Metropolitan Ballet’s “The Story of Tinkerbelle,” and then on Sunday it was off on a jet to Washington, DC where the next five months of my life would be spent.

On January 22, my situation in DC was exciting yet scary with no friends or family and a new life…it was like being away at college, only it was my junior year of high school.  My new home located on Capitol Hill was Webster Hall, an elegant red brick colonial building with four massive columns in front. The first floor housed the 16 girl Pages, the second floor the 14 boy Pages, and in the basement were the Senate Page School and the kitchen (where we made our own meals…and got to sneak late night snacks). 

A typical day consisted of 5:00 am wake-up time, school at 6:15 am, and report for work in the Senate Cloakroom at 8:30 am.  Three to four hours of homework were completed each night after often working until the late hours of the evening.  There was no Facebook, MySpace, cell phone, or IM.  It was like being on another planet, but the good thing was that there were 29 other kids thrust into the same situation.

My “dorm” room was shared with five other girls who were from Maine to Nevada…Room 15.  We started out strangers and quickly became best friends.  It was like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on steroids!  Late at night when we were in our beds (which were bunk-bed style with a desk directly below), we’d share with each other our trials and successes of the day.  We laughed, cried, consoled one another, gave each other makeovers…we became one.  My greatest discovery- - it is possible for six girls to get ready in the morning using one bathroom, one mirror, and two plugs!

It felt like we were in the movie National Treasure.  There were secret Senate subway systems, special access to the Library of Congress and the very top dome of the U.S. Capitol building, hidden passageways and rooms where only we and the Senators could venture.  One week after my arrival we were able to attend the State of the Union Address.  As we waited to march in the traditional procession from the Senate chamber to the House chamber, Vice President Cheney, Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and others greeted us.  As the ceremony was about to begin, President Bush walked by and the crowd was buzzing.  The energy of excitement was so thick in the room you could cut it with a knife.  When they announced, “...and now the President of the United States...,” the room erupted.  It was the most electric moment that you could imagine.

Working on the Senate floor was very demanding, and the Pages had to constantly be on our toes.  Opening the door for Vice President Cheney on my first day was awesome, and we were asked to do everything from copying to delivering important legislative bills.  One day while holding the door, out emerged Senator Obama.  He touched me on the shoulder…and gave me a static shock!  Every morning Dr. Barry Black, the Senate Chaplain, delivered the invocation as the Senate session was called to order.  His deep, strong voice gave a calm and reassuring start to the work day.  Working with Senator Hutchison was a tremendous learning experience.  She is easily one of the most respected people in WashingtonDC.  She is smart, effective, very nice, and cares more about our country than you can imagine.  

One of the fondest memories is of working until 2:00 am one morning during budget week.  It was incredible to get to experience first hand what it takes to run our country.  Senator Hutchison’s office invited me to the Capitol Rotunda for the exclusive Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for Dr. Michael DeBakey, renowned heart surgeon and medical innovator.  As a Texan and the only Page to get this opportunity, it made me feel a little taller and prouder at that moment to see this great person being recognized.  We got to meet many famous people like Lance Armstrong, Shakira, Amber Tamblyn, Richard Gere, Bono, Hayden Panettiere, and a number of foreign dignitaries.

Our weekends were filled with field trips to destinations like Philadelphia, Baltimore, the Eastern shore, cosmic glow bowling, Kings Dominion theme park, Glen Echo Park, where we went swing dancing, and many of the museums throughout the DC metro area.  We got to picnic among the cherry blossoms, fly kites on the Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial, watch the star-studded National Memorial Day concert on the lawn of the Capitol, and many other unforgettable experiences.  On the few weekends we weren’t going on field trips, we’d ride the Metro to Georgetown and other “hot spots.”  We had total freedom….and it was GREAT!

There are so many stories that it could easily fill a novel.  Unforgettable people who left their mark on me include Loren, my Cloakroom “boss” and mentor, my teachers who taught me much more than English, calculus, physics, and history, and others too numerous to name.  The experience ended on June 6 with a graduation ceremony held in the very intimate Mansfield Room in the Capitol.  Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) gave speeches, as well as our teachers and principal.  Teamed with another Page, my last big thrill was singing the duet “For Good” from the musical Wicked in honor of our Page class.  There was a thundering applause and not a dry eye in the house.  It was the perfect ending to a great ride, and the friendships and the memories of this experience will be treasured for my entire life.