Assumptions Disproven During Student's Trip to Albany

Nathan Beck, Amy Paulin and Dylan Lemberg in the CapitolSHS Junior Dylan Lemberg was chosen by the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale to attend the Students Inside Albany Conference from May 18-21, 2025. The program's main objectives are to enhance students' understanding of their role in representative government and equip them with essential tools to fulfill that responsibility.

During the conference, participants engage in interactive lectures covering various topics, including the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in legislation, citizen rights in accessing government information, media's role in politics, and efforts to reform state government. Additionally, students get the chance to tour the state Capitol and shadow their respective Senators and Assemblymembers during legislative sessions, offering a unique and immersive learning experience.

Dylan wrote the following reflection about what he took away from his time in Albany:

Undoubtedly, we view our country as polarized and paralyzed. We view our government as immobile and inefficient. We view the halls of the legislature as unproductive and power-hungry. I long held these beliefs as well, but nowhere else have I seen these assumptions so categorically disproven as in the New York State government.

I walked the halls of the Capitol in absolute awe, staring at the melting pot of architectural styles—from Roman painted ceilings to Moorish arches. I looked in amazement at the gold-plated Senate Chamber and the oak-lined Assembly. But nothing stood out to me more than the genuineness of our New York State representatives.

I spent the day with Amy Paulin as she delightedly explained the ins and outs of the daily workings of the Assembly, walking me step-by-step through the endless list of bills she was attempting to pass. She went from place to place, person to person—the floor, committees, lobbyists, pharmacists, citizens, and everything in between. I have rarely seen anyone work so hard. Kindly, she brought me into the Health Committee, which she chairs, and I watched the flurry of bills be mentioned and quickly resolved. Though they flew past, there was one very notable one: a ban on the discount and giveaway sale of nicotine pouches (Zyns). Before the small, closed-door session started, she asked me two questions: Did I think that companies like Zyn were marketing to kids? Yes. And what percent of kids my age did I think had used nicotine pouches at some point? Around a third.

As the committee came to a close and bill A7814 was brought to a vote—unanimous minority opposition—she boldly made sure to say, “I asked a student some questions today. He believed that a third of his fellow students had used these drugs and that he felt confident they were targeting their sale to kids in some way. I want those who voted no to remember that. They are endangering our kids.” I was proud—not just of the immensity of her work, but of what she hoped to achieve.

A day later, just ten minutes after walking into Senator Shelley Mayer’s office, her Chief of Staff, Rachel Estroff, invited us into one of the most eye-opening meetings of my life. As we walked in with our suits, I was greeted by a long wooden table, every spot filled by children my age in casual clothes, accompanied by a few adults. They brought signs: “We are all human.” As the meeting began, I realized their goals. Though they were not in the Senator’s district, they had come to ask her for help. They described their experiences in western, rural New York, where their schools where fewer students are in attendance and playgrounds abandoned, as parents fear the impending conquest of ICE. Kids younger than I nearly cried as they told horror stories of friends’ parents being taken, leaving the children with nowhere to go. They spoke of their fear every time they stepped into the street, whether undocumented or not. One 15-year-old, who spoke no English and was accompanied by a girl to translate, described his grueling 14-hour workdays with little to no breaks, an experience which Rachel pointed out as a clear violation of both state and federal labor laws. They came to ask for help. It was heartbreaking. Sure, we hear these stories on the news, but rarely do we get a chance to see the rawness and pain in person. I was overcome with a sense of empathy.

But, as moving and transformative as it was for me, our day moved on. We met Senator Mayer near the Senate floor as sheState Senator Shelley Mayer with Students at the Capitol took extensive time to talk with me and the other students. Both Paulin and Mayer told stories, showed us private rooms, and introduced us to their colleagues. They were welcoming and invested. They were incredibly supportive in my quest for expanded Civic Education, each promising their help in some way in achieving our goals at NYSEC (ny-sec.org). After spending the day with the two of them, I can confidently say that I have the utmost confidence and pride in our representatives.

Beyond our shadowing, however, were also some of the most important insights. The League of Women Voters made sure our day was filled with knowledgeable speakers—from activists (Alliance for Quality Education) to legislators (John McDonald) to reporters (Dan Clark). They, and many more not listed here, all had a unique view on the workings of our government. Each gave their motivations, tips and tricks, and honest answers to various questions, all designed to encourage our further participation.

But it was Erica Smitka, the Executive Director of the New York League of Women Voters, who engaged me the most. Immediately upon talking with her about my ambitions to expand NYSEC, she sat down with me to help present the project to legislators and to discuss how best to expand it overall. She was constantly invested in my—and everyone else’s—engagement, pushing students to really get the most out of the program, from talking with peers to engaging with speakers and legislators. Even at the very end, as we got ready to head home, she shook my hand and told me how she looked forward to working together. I was elated to find that she shared my excitement in our fight for Civic Education.
The impact of this program, nevertheless, would not be complete without the wide range of students from across New York with whom I had the chance to spend my days. From the border of Canada to rural farms, to Buffalo, Long Island, Manhattan, small isolated towns, Syracuse, and every place, big or small, in between, there was someone different. Having spent much of my life here in Westchester, the wide range of cultures, even within the same state, was so intriguing. I am very happy that I not only connected with them but also continue to stay in contact with many of them. Without them, the experience would not have been the same.

I have long been interested in politics, and I sincerely hope that this trip to Albany was the first of many more. And for this, I truly owe a big thanks to the League of Women Voters—the Scarsdale chapter, the New York chapter, and everyone else who made this event possible. Thank you for giving me one of my first chances to experience my dream. I will forever remember it.