Pennsylvania at the 2017 High School Democrats of America Summit
Looking back on the impactful experience in Washington
During the last week of June, nearly 100 passionate high school Democrats gathered at George Washington University in Washington D.C. At this third annual High School Democrats of America Summit, HSDPA Vice Chair Saira Salyani of Great Valley High School in Malvern and Natalie Kelly of Unionville High School in Kennett Square represented Pennsylvania.
For Salyani and Kelly, the Summit was packed with opportunities to meet with and listen to meritorious speakers and politicians. One highlight for Kelly was a conversation with Jake Sullivan, former Chief of Staff to Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State. Kelly especially appreciated the global perspective that Sullivan offered on local elections. “While he mentioned that the rest of the world needs the US, especially in institutions like NATO,” Kelly recounts. “He also said that globalization has left a lot of people behind, and we have to prove its worth to those people.”
This perspective aided Kelly in understanding why certain policies had failed. Additionally, she was enlightened by the suggestions that Sullivan had for improving election strategy the future.
A particular speaker who piqued Salyani’s interest was Jason Kander, who ran for U.S. Senate in Missouri. While he didn’t win, he still outperformed Clinton by 15 points. “He had so much insight to give on elections and how Democrats can improve their massage,” Salyani explains.
However, the most memorable experience for Salyani was one that was not on the agenda: the chance to see Democrats hold the floor to protest the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. “As we walked into the room, there was such [a sense] of excitement that ran through all of us,” she marvels, “Being able to experience [the protest] with a group of some of the most passionate, hard-working people in the country was amazing.”
Kelly also remembers the power of standing on the steps of the capital, listening to Corey Booker explain why we need to protect health care. She furthers that “Knowing that the people around us wanted to be heard and were fighting to talk to their Senators about the healthcare bill was really inspiring, since many of the protesters came from far away and knew they needed the ACA to survive. That sort of energy followed us around and helped reassure me that we can change things and fight for things.”
Another positive of the Summit was the atmosphere of like-minded, active progressive teenagers. “Since not many teenagers are involved in politics, it’s so great to go to Washington and meet the kids who are involved in politics and debate ideas and freak out with [them],” Salyani says.
This enthusiasm was epitomized in the reaction to the announcement that the students were headed to the Senate gallery to see Democrats protest the Affordable Care Act, when students were so overcome with excitement that many were jumping up and down or crying and hugging each other.
Kelly appreciated the ability to debate and discuss a wide range of topics, from the viability of Bernie Sanders’s campaign to the purpose of capitalism with students hailing from a variety of backgrounds.
Both Salyani and Kelly expressed a sense of gratitude for the sense of motivation that was spurred on by Summit. “Coming out of Summit, I felt hopeful and excited,” Kelly reveals, “I would say Summit changed the way I felt about the next 4 years from angry and depressed to angry and ready to do something.”
Pointing to the fact that many of the speakers at the Summit had been active in politics at a young age, Salyani states that “[The speakers] gave us so much advice on how we can make our voices heard. They were also able to give us the encouragement that we need from a really young age to run for office.”
Not only was Summit an enriching experience in the moment, but the event also shaped and fueled both students’ futures in HSDA and the professional sphere. Kelly says that the experience changed her perspective on the next four years from one of anger to one of resilience.
For Salyani, internal programming which provided advice for growing state and local chapters was especially helpful. Hearing Lucinda Guinn, Vice President of Campaigns at Emily’s List, an organization which promotes women’s involvement in politics, served as an inspiration for Salyani, who wants to work for the group in the future.
Salyani explains how the event presented a variety of paths for careers in politics besides running for office that can help students channel their passions as they move forward.
This year’s HSDA Summit was a gratifying experience for Salyani and Kelly, who urge students who are passionate about politics to apply in the coming years. Simplifying the value of Summit, Kelly articulates “Getting together with similar people from around the country and getting to meet people who’ve dedicated their lives fighting for what you believe in is really, really cool.”
The High School Democrats of Pennsylvania is a student-run, statewide chapter of the High School Democrats of America. Follow us on twitter @PennHSDems and like us on Facebook. For information about how to start a chapter, please contact us at pennsylvania@hsdems.org.

