Poppy Press

Coming into Louisiana Girls State, I was so excited to meet girls from all over the state. I knew I would be surrounded by ambitious young women, but I didn’t realize how much I could learn from them in such a short time. As we began to give speeches for our city and parish positions and the candidates stated their many qualifications, I had a major realization. Every delegate, in some way, was a leader. Whether she was a president, officer, captain, sister, or just an act

On Day 1 of Girls State, I quickly realized that this experience came with learning a new language. PC, CC, PPC, CCW; the random arrangements of letters overwhelmed me. However, as the week progressed, I found a love for these random letters, and found my place in all the chaos. Becoming Campaign Committeewoman (CCW) for Atchafalaya Nationalist Party was such an honor. However, this was not the plan I intended to pursue. I did not come into this experience knowing, “Yes, I w

“MUSTERRR!” If yk, yk! Imagine it’s 7:45 in the morning and all you hear is banging on the door with the famous Girls State word. As many would not know, “muster” is our wake up call to get out of our rooms every morning and start our eventful day. We then get into our two by twos and as we say in Amite Parish, “fins up!” These two military grade lines help to insure no citizen is left behind as we walk to get from place to place. For extra precaution, we put our hands up and

I don’t think anyone can ever truly be ready for Girls State—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a whirlwind of information, elections, friendship, chants, and so much more that simply cannot be summarized in an article. However, even if I cannot prepare you for each and every aspect of the week, I can pass along a few tips I wish I’d known. We’ll start with something you’ll probably hear a dozen times before you even step foot on campus, but I don’t think it can be

Government. Politics. Campaigns. Elections. This is what I thought Girls State was all about. I quickly learned that Girls State is more than just politics and government. It’s an experience which fosters friendships and a community. Coming from a small town in Northwest Louisiana, community is a huge part of my hometown. As a Louisiana citizen, community is the backbone of our state. My time here at Girls State has made me realize just how important a community is. Since the

Hot takes seem to be Girls State’s go-to ice breaker, so here’s mine: your resume can be the most impressive in the world, and you can still be underqualified for the job. LAGS taught me this firsthand through the extensive election process. As candidates took the stage, I began to notice a pattern. Many speeches highlighted impressive accomplishments, leadership positions, and awards, but they often followed the same familiar structure. After hearing similar talking points r

You assume that being here for 7 days is enough time. I started packing thinking “Gosh I’ve got to pack for 7 days. I am going to be away from home for so long.” I started to get overwhelmed by the thought of being far from home for so long without anyone there. I had no idea what I was going to walk into, and I did not know anybody. Then, eventually, you find your people. When you find your people, Monday blends in with Tuesday, then suddenly it's Wednesday and the week is

Just a few weeks ago, Girls State seemed to be so far away. Now, it’s actually over. Something that once felt so far away in the future went by so fast. Hi everyone, my name is Emmie Smith. A little background information about me: I’m in Pearl Parish and currently serve on Poppy Press and as the Pearl Parish Federalist PPC. Before coming to Girls State, I was super anxious about what the week would hold. I honestly just didn’t know what to expect. To help the future citizens

Throughout your week at Louisiana Girls State you will hear the phrase “you get out what you put into this experience” about 100 times,...

What do you mean “Girls State?” Like what even is a girls state? Before I was nominated to attend the Louisiana Girls State, I had never...

Hi, my name is Camryn Landry and I am the LA Girls State SPC for 2025! A little about me: I am from Lafayette, Louisiana, and I attend...

Hey! Hey! Turn up for Party Day! Two parties. One day. Endless spirit. Party Day at Girls State is a high-energy celebration of spirit,...

Hi ladies! My name is Caroline Heinen, and I am a reporter for Poppy Press. A little background: I’ve always been a girl from a loud...

On Thursday, June 12th, The Louisiana Girls State House of Representatives voted on House Bill 8–LORACKS (Legislative Order of...

Every Summer, girls of Louisiana are selected for ALA Girls State. This is a week long program that acts as a “51st state." Girls then...

Sniping noun | suh•nye•ping To take an unexpected or secret picture of a PC, CC, or Citizen, resulting in funny meme. 1. Gossiping after...

Louisiana Girls State is full of new experiences and unexpected moments. One of the most interesting and intense roles you can take on is...

Louisiana Girls State is much more than just a leadership camp—it’s a place where friendships are found, confidence grows, and memories...

At Louisiana Girls State many things are happening at once, but here is what I would say are the cannon events! A cannon event is...