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Humboldt junior Hajira Abdi listens as Rep. Betty McCollum describes her efforts to help people when she travels to foreign countries, rather than just building relationships with leaders.

Humboldt High School students in social studies teacher Matt Osborne’s classes learned about the role of a U.S. Representative and the mechanics of Congress from a primary source— their own  U. S. Representative.  On December 18, Rep. Betty McCollum met with about 60 Humboldt students to talk about what it is like to be a member of Congress in these challenging times.

McCollum told students about her life as a school parent interested in playground issues who was eventually elected to the North St. Paul City Council, then to the state legislature and, finally, to Congress.  She was first elected as Representative of Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District, which includes St. Paul and some of its suburbs, in 2000.

Students listened intently to her comments and when McCollum took questions, demonstrated

John Reardon, a junior at Humboldt, greets Rep. Betty McCollum after she addressed 60 Humboldt students on December 18.

a wide variety of interests. Students asked about her views on the Big Three auto bail out and the alleged attempts by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama.  They also asked her what her day was like, what laws she had passed in Congress and whether she was rich (no, according to the Congresswoman).    

"It was very cool to have this opportunity available to us,” said Humboldt junior, John Reardon. “I am very appreciative that she took the time out of her busy schedule to visit us. I had no idea that Congressmen and women traveled so much. I figured they just go between their districts and Washington."

I was impressed with how thoughtfully McCollum answered all the questions,” said Hajira Abdi, a junior who asked McCollum if she “helped people” when she traveled to other countries, or focused on building relationships. “What impressed me the most was how she helped children and women in Africa who were diagnosed with AIDS."

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