Under the Golden Dome, Too

By: 
Linda Upmeyer

Upmeyer page thankful for legislative opportunity
 
     Each legislative session we are joined by high school juniors and seniors from across the state to serve as pages in either the Iowa House, Iowa Senate or the Legislative Services Agency. As the House Majority Leader, I am privileged to have a page based in my office each year. I selected Nicholas Lindberg to work in my office in 2015 and have asked him to provide some insight about his time at the Capitol. 
     Hello, my name is Nicholas Lindberg and I have been given the honor of serving House Majority Leader Upmeyer as her page this legislative session. I am a senior at the Adair-Casey High School, and I live in the small western Iowa town of Casey. After graduation, I plan on pursuing a degree in either business administration or political science.
     My family has a long tradition of being farmers or soldiers, and with my interest in politics, my uncles often claim my father took the wrong baby home from the hospital. As I graduated from one grade to the next, I became increasingly interested in helping others. It wasn’t until my dad contacted our representative, though, that my interest took a new level of dedication.
     Rep. Baudler invited us to the Statehouse to learn more about our state government. After meeting with him and being introduced on the House floor, he pulled me aside to talk about the Legislative Page Program. With his encouragement, I was determined to do all I could to get accepted.
     After sending in the online application form, three letters of recommendation and a detailed résumé, I was asked to attend an interview. A few weeks later I received an email not only confirming my acceptance but also inviting me to attend a meeting with the other selectees. From there, we interviewed to work in the offices of the Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, Minority Leader and Chief Clerk. Days later, I received a call from the Chief Clerk asking if I’d accept a position as the Majority Leader’s Page. Needless to say, I eagerly accepted.
     Rep. Upmeyer is great to work for. One of the most important jobs I have is helping her keep in touch with her constituents. Often, this means helping her send congratulatory letters and recognitions for their hard work. I also answer phone calls from Iowans wishing to share their ideas, concerns, questions or support with the Majority Leader.
     Additionally, I work closely with the Speaker’s page, Aaron. We are both tasked with learning how to operate the soundboard used during session, setting up the conference room for press conferences and taking photos for representatives and their constituents.
     This experience has truly been one of a kind and I highly recommend this program for any high school student interested in government. Not only does it provide you with a sense of belonging, respect and dedication, it gives you a first-hand look at how our state government operates. I’d like to thank Rep. Upmeyer for giving me this golden opportunity.
     The page program provides a unique opportunity for young Iowans to learn about the state legislative process. If you know a current high school sophomore or junior that would enjoy this immersive experience, please contact me for additional information.
     As always, if you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-4618.

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