Soren Brockman ’27 Attends Student Government Day at the MA State House

Humanities faculty member Eitan Tye attended the event with Brockman. Tye first heard about Student Government Day while researching opportunities at the State House for his Grade 7 curriculum. He worked with Interim Head of Upper School Will Mills, debate club leaders Feryal Sacristán and Joanna Seymour, Director of Global Education Andrea Villagrán, and Director of Community Engagement Lucas Malo to garner interest and applications among Rivers Upper School students. After reviewing the applications, that group selected Brockman to attend the event.

“I decided to apply because I’ve always been very interested in state, national, and global politics. Before this, I had never been to the State House, met local representatives, or really been exposed to how state government works in practice,” Brockman says. “I was hoping to gain a better understanding of that process and also meet other students who are passionate about similar issues.”

Brockman reports that the event had a packed agenda. Participants sat in the House chambers, offering testimony, debating, and voting on current bills, including Bill.614 related to AI use in schools and Ch. 98 related to genocide education. Brockman researched Bill.614 in advance and wrote a roughly one-minute testimony in opposition to the bill, which he had the opportunity to deliver at the event. In his testimony, Brockman argued that “AI restrictions in schools need to be incredibly stringent to prevent misuse.”  He also noted that the bill’s language is too vague, and could lead to overly lenient restrictions. Hundreds of people watched as he gave his testimony, “which was nerve-racking but fun,” he says.

Through participation in the legislative process, Brockman and other peers gained insight into what procedures are followed in local and national bodies of government. “One of the most interesting parts for me was learning parliamentary procedure, which was completely new but really helped me understand how structured and intentional the process is,” Brockman says. 

After lunch, students heard from Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General Deb Goldberg. Hearing from these cabinet members gave students a broader look at how different parts of the state government operate. 

Governor Maura Healey also attended and spoke to the students about the importance of civic engagement and voting, which Brockman says was a highlight of the event. “Her speech was incredibly passionate and focused on the importance of political participation and the responsibility that comes with public office. I had never seen her in person before, and it made the experience feel much more engaging,” Brockman says.

“Overall, my biggest takeaway was that while state and local government can seem distant from the outside, being there in person made it feel much more real and accessible,” Brockman reflects. “The day was so inspiring and ultimately reinforced my dream of one day working in politics.”