By: Riya Kumar

Anxiety and excitement filled the minds of over thirty girls as they moved into floor three. Young women from all over the state of Nebraska were ready to leave their homes and come together at the University of Nebraska Lincoln for a week of growth, making connections, and stepping out of their comfort zones. The girls of floor three were welcomed by Senior Counselor Haley Teten and Junior Counselor Hanna Rogers as they received their room numbers and finally got to meet their roommates. 

The nerves continued as they gathered in the floor lobby to introduce themselves to the girls they would spend the next week with at their first town meeting. Their first activity was to bring out an object that they can’t live without. Laughter filled the room when the girls shared their 17 year old ripped up baby blankets, chapstick, and other sentimental items. The star of the show was a goldfish named Theodore, brought by Ella Whiting as a campaign tactic. After this activity, it was clear a strong bond was forming. 

That night, they experienced their first whistle stop campaigns when the girls running for city positions were able to share their ideas and persuade their floor members to vote for them. One thing that the girls on floor three deeply enjoy is spending time with their peers and counselors at the end of the night to relax and get to know each other on a deeper level. Snacks, drinks, and laughter filled the lobby before they went to bed to charge up and get ready for another busy and fun-filled day.