Students room in a hotel along with participants from all over the country. In my case, there were students from Louisiana, Rhode Island, Michigan, and California. It's a fabulous opportunity to meet new people, and also to hear personal viewpoints, rather than sweeping generalizations about a certain state or area. From there, Close Up has you moving and thinking all day, everyday. Seminars are conducted by associated professionals on topics such as domestic issues, international affairs, the budget crisis, gun control, homelessness, the Constitution, presidential powers, terrorism, the media, Proposition 187, North Korea and the threat of nuclear war, and many others.
Students propel the direction conversation flows.
Raising your hand, and officially stating your name and home state, for one minute it's your turn to ask a question which may have been irritating you, or maybe you just had a fleeting thought. This is an opportunity which few teenagers will have, unfortunately, so taking advantage of it is a must. At some point in the week you may even meet a senator or representative from your state, and that, I will tell you, produces great political food for thought. By constantly forcing you to reassess your own beliefs because of new information being presented, this week turns out to be filled with much mental activity. These are issues which not only adults think about, as some people may presume.