Saugus teen is student governor

SAUGUS – A Saugus resident got to run the show at the State House for a few hours earlier this month after she was elected student governor for the 65th Annual Student Government Day.Sofia Pagliuca, 18, a senior at Nazareth Academy in Wakefield, was elected out of hundreds of students from around Massachusetts to serve as governor for the day.?It was really nerve-racking, but really eye-opening and it was a great experience,” said Pagliuca. “I got there around 8:30 and they sat us according to our position. Then they introduced Tim Murray and Deval Patrick, who gave speeches about leadership and community involvement.”Pagliuca, who is the vice president of the student government at Nazareth, said she had never really paid attention to what goes on in state or local government until now.?I want to go into the medical field, so I never really had any interest in government or anything in politics really,” said Pagliuca, who will study nursing at Simmons College next year. “But I learned the government isn?t as closed off as I used to think. It?s a lot easier to get involved and it?s important to get involved. Even if my career doesn?t involve government, it?s important to get involved.”Pagliuca said students in attendance were all elected to various positions, and then had mock debates which led to votes on two bills: one which would make community service a requirement for graduation and another that would prevent kids who aren?t in school from getting their driver?s license.?It was really interesting,” said Pagliuca. “The majority of people were against the bill not allowing people to have their license if they don?t go to school and most people were for having a community service requirement.”As student governor, Pagliuca had to give a speech and said she was especially nervous coming from such a small school like Nazareth, noting she isn?t used to speaking in front of large crowds like the one at the State House.?It was a really great experience,” said Pagliuca. “I?m really glad I did it because it opened my eyes to a lot of different things.”Pagliuca, who is president of her school?s community service club, said she spoke about young people having 21st century skills to help move the country into the future.?I basically talked about how America isn?t always going to be at the top at the rate that we?re going and we aren?t really as superior as you think we are,” said Pagliuca. “It?s up to our generation and our schools to have a curriculum that includes 21st century skills like collaboration, and creativity and critical thinking so we can keep up our role in the world.”Pagliuca?s mom Bonnie was in attendance, and said watching her daughter speaking to so many students and elected officials was really “something to see.”?My husband and I got to go down because she was the student governor,” she said. “Most other parents aren?t invited. It was just spectacular. I was kind of in awe watching my daughter. She walked down and people were addressing her as Gov. Pagliuca, and in her speech she was just so cool, calm and collected. It was really amazing.”According to a press release from the governor?s office, the first Student Government Day was held in 1947, and since then on one Friday in April each year students from across the Commonwealth gather at the State House to learn about the role of state government.?The Student Government Day program is an excellent way to get our young people civically engaged and to help them better understand the ins and outs of public service,” said Secretary of Education Paul Reville in the release.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].