Every high-schooler has their “thing.” For some, it’s a sport or theater or music. For others, it’s service or writing or art. For LFHS senior Eily Brady, it’s nothing short of changing the world.

I don’t know Eily well, but based on what I do know–and the resounding words of those who do–she is dedicated to fighting for what she believes in and bettering the society she lives in. To anyone who knows Eily, it surely came as no surprise when she was recognized as JSA’s Junior Statesperson of the Year for the entire Midwest.

Junior State of America (JSA), is a less competitive relative of debate and is the largest student-run organization in the country. It focuses on civic engagement, foreign affairs, law, and politics. Every position in the organization is held by a student, from local chapter presidents to the national administration. They engage in debates, thought talks, and simulations to exchange different viewpoints on a variety of issues and solve problems accordingly.

The Midwest “state” includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and the western half of Indiana. Needless to say that encompasses a lot of high schools and a ton of students. So who organizes all these people at conventions? Overseeing the Midwest State and planning the conventions falls in the hands of the cabinet, a group of dedicated students including Eily. Last year she was the Director of Chapter Internal Affairs.

Eily has served on the cabinet at the Midwest conventions for JSA for 2 years. Her responsibilities include organizing the conventions and keeping things running smoothly. She was chosen by all of the elected members of various chapters, including cabinet members, chapter presidents and officers. Being elected by a group of her peers shows how much of an impact she has had on JSA in the midwest and how much her work is appreciated by her peers.

Eily has been involved in JSA and debate since her freshman year. She was the president of LFHS’s chapter of JSA last year and is currently the captain of the Debate Team. Besides that, she’s been involved in Student to Student, Link Crew, National Honor Society, Cum Laude, Spanish Club, and French Club here at LFHS. Outside of school, she is a French tutor, volunteers at Roberti Community House, and dances in a tap dance company.

Eily is proof that dedicated students can take the lessons and skills they learn in school and extracurriculars and make a difference in larger society. This year, Eily interned with both the Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats and State Senator Julie Morrison’s office where she worked with Morrison on a resolution to promote youth engagement in government. This summer she will be a Youth Campaign Consultant for Planned Parenthood and also hopes to work on a gubernatorial campaign.

Mr. Wanninger, Eily’s debate coach for the past four years, has only positive things to say about her. He explained that, “From the first time she came to a debate meeting freshman year I saw in her a spark and a drive and I knew that she would be able to do great things. The way that she has been a leader for the team is a great model for being a leader in general.”

Eily passed the baton off to her brother, Emmet Brady, who is captain of LFHS’ chapter of JSA this year. Emmet has looked up to his sister as a role model in his three years of congressional debate and JSA. He assured me that Eily is very dedicated to JSA saying not only that “she puts even more work into JSA than school” but that, “it’s basically her life.”

I asked Eily about how JSA has shaped her and her high school career; she said she’s learned, “how to advocate for myself and my beliefs and to articulate my ideas in the most effective way possible. I’ve also learned how to interact with others who disagree with me, which has already proven to be an invaluable skill and one I know I will continue to use in the future.”

Through it all she has kept a realistic attitude about debate, expressing that it, “really isn’t about winning an argument or about convincing your opponent to agree with you. More often than not, those objectives are simply unrealistic. Debate is a way for both parties to come away more informed and ideally more empathetic, and I think that looking at debate through that lens makes for much more productive discussion.”

While Eily is graduating and heading off to Dartmouth College next year, she has some parting advice about debate and JSA for underclassmen, “Anyone who is even remotely interested should try it out. It’s a great way to gain confidence and learn about current events and political issues.”
From what I have learned about Eily Brady, she is the type of person we can all aspire to be more like: involved, passionate, and dedicated to the causes she believes in. So on behalf of the school community, congratulations on your recognition as JSA Junior Statesperson of the Year and we are excited to see what great things await you in the future.