Chester student participates in 'Youth to Washington' trip
<p dir="ltr"><span>It was an experience of a lifetime for Melissa Crosby</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The Chester High School junior recently participated in the annual "Youth to Washington Tour" June 10 through 17.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Crosby was one of two candidates sponsored by the Steeleville-based Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association on the all-expenses-paid trip, which brought together more than 1,000 students from across the nation to learn more about how the U.S. government operates.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Arezou Esmaeeli, of Carbondale, was the other sponsored candidate.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I met new people from across the state and at the beginning of the week, I knew nobody," Crosby said. "At the end of the week, I was crying because I didn't want to leave. It was life-changing."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The tour featured trips to several Washington D.C.-area sites, interactions with members of Congress and the opportunity to sit in on a lecture by the Supreme Court.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Crosby is the daughter of Steve and Jill Asbury and Jill Asbury thanked the EEOC for the opportunity the organization gave her daughter.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Her experiences and opportunities she had in DC, she would not be able to do all the things she was able to do without the EEOC," Jill Asbury said, noting that the EEOC paid for the entirety of the $1,500 trip - not including souvenirs.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Crosby and the other students were able to meet with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12th).</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We were all gathered around Dick Durbin and Mike Bost," Crosby said. "Some of them would take the time to teach us about life and we could ask them about the budget or how we could meet new people in Congress.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"They were real personable. They were approachable and would talk to you about how to be a better person in life and how to reach your goals."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Crosby noted there were 64 students from Illinois on the trip, with 48 of the 50 states represented. The group was also in Washington D.C. during the rallies for the victims of the terror attack on the Orlando nightclub Pulse on June 12</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"There was an LGBT vigil outside the White House," Crosby said. "That was kind of a neat experience to see people rally."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Crosby said her experience helped her achieve a better understanding of how important legislative roles are.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I learned a lot," she said. "I met a lot of representatives and we got to ask them questions one-on-one. It made me feel like I could do that one day."</span>