By Courtney Dentch
Sixth-grader Richard Gadsden of Jamaica got to take some days off from school this week for a trip to Washington with the Junior National Youth Leaders Conference.
Richard, 12, spent five days — Saturday through Thursday — in the capital city learning about the American government with 50 students from throughout the state and hundreds more across the country.
The middle-school students got a hands-on lesson in the founding of the country and day-to-day workings of Congress, said Brett West, a spokesman for the program. The students also met with congressional staff members and toured national monuments, West said.
“I’m really excited,” Richard said before he left for Washington. “It looks like it’s going to be fun.”
Richard, who attends the United Nations International School in Jamaica Estates, also received a special invitation to meet his congressman, U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans), said Richard’s father, Clifford Gadsden.
“We just thought this would be a great opportunity for him to interact with other kids from across the country,” the elder Gadsden said. “It’s always nice when kids can exchange ideas.”
And despite Richard’s interest in visiting Washington, he’s not considering politics for his future career, he said. He wants to be a doctor, he said.
“You get to help people and they get paid a lot of money,” said Richard.
