Kristen Jensen, 2021 REMC Youth Tourist

Each year Randolph EMC joins other cooperatives around the nation to select 1,600 of our brightest and best students for the annual Youth Tour. Traditionally in this educational program, students travel to Washington, DC, for a week of educational programming.

Communications and Public Affairs Manager Nicole Arnold interviewed our 2021 winner, Kristen Jensen, a rising senior at Uwharrie Charter Academy, to get some insight into her experience at this year’s virtual Youth Tour. Kristen is a student-athlete and is especially fond of the subjects of English and History. She also demonstrates leadership in her community through her service with the Ulah Volunteer Fire Department.

Thank you, Kristen, for being an outstanding representative of Randolph EMC’s youth!

Q: When was the Youth Tour this year?

A: The tour began Sunday, June 20, and met through Saturday, June 26.

Q: How did you participate in the Youth Tour this summer?

A: My youth tour experience varied from the typical opportunity to visit Washington, DC, and meet in person. Rather, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we were hosted on a virtual platform in which we met other youth tourists throughout North Carolina and multiple different speakers via Zoom. Although this platform was not the original concept of the Youth Tour, the organizers greatly adapted to the circumstances and still provided us with the best and safest alternative possible.

Q: What did you learn about during the virtual Youth Tour sessions each day?

A: We learned a great deal about our country’s capital and about the representatives who make the decisions for us. I was beyond thankful for the opportunity given to me by Randolph Electric Membership Corporation to spend a short time learning about a myriad of important topics including different types of cooperatives, political information, financial guidance, and planning. 

Q: What are your top two takeaways from the programming this year?

A: Each of the subjects discussed opened my eyes to the importance of sharing the knowledge we possess to create a better world around us. I also really valued that the speakers emphasized the importance of voicing our opinions to create change within in our environments and communities.