Six OVS student leaders traveled to Beverly Hills on Monday to hear former President Bill Clinton deliver the inaugural address in the Los Angeles World Affairs Council’s new series, America’s Role in the World.
The 42nd president of the United States spoke about a range of issues including the hysteria surrounding Ebola, the possibility of returning to a Cold War with Russia and the prospects of effective governance over the next two years, now that Republicans have won control of the Senate and expanded their majority in the House of Representatives.
The OVS students thought highly of Mr. Clinton and enjoyed the sold-out event, which was held at the Beverly Hills Hilton.
“I though it was an amazing opportunity,” said senior Daphne Psaledakis, who serves as the Student Council’s public relations representative and editor of the school’s newspaper, On The Hill. “He’s a really good speaker and it was interesting to hear what he had to say about the government, especially after taking government class.”
Daphne was joined at Clinton’s talk by seniors Connor Floyd, Natalia Huang and Masaki Takamatsu, and juniors Ally Feiss and Davis Smith.
The students were able to attend the event as part of a new program sponsored by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council aimed at involving more high school students in its public programs. The council’s events are focused on providing authoritative and influential speakers from around the world an open forum to promote greater understanding of global issues.
Mr. Clinton’s talk was guided by World Affairs Council President and CEO Terry McCarthy, who on Jan. 15 will be the guest speaker in OVS’ newly revamped Lecture Series.
Much of Mr. Clinton’s conversation focused on the inter-connectedness of the world, and stressed the need for countries to work together to solve problems.
“The thing that works best out there is creative cooperation,” Mr. Clinton emphasized. “We are all in same boat and we need to row together.”
OVS students were grateful for the rare opportunity to listen live to a U.S. president and watch history in the making.
“I thought it was a rare but useful opportunity to help kids learn how life as a president is, and how they influence others with their political policies and ideas,” said junior Davis Smith, the Student Council’s vice president.