Drumroll, Please!

OK, I have the MOST EXCITING NEWS to share!!!!!!! :D:D:D.....

I

Am

Going

To

MILK SOME GOATS! 

I'm on a farm in NY State, having the time of mah LIFE, learning about sustainable farming, collecting eggs from chickens, grooming 22 hand-high horses, feeding lambs, walking donkeys and even MILKING GOATS! 

Okay, okay. While this is SO exciting and fun and EPIC... it isn't actually the BIG NEWS I have to share. 

I just found out that 

I

ME

PEYTON

MOI

L'il OLD ME

have been accepted into the LEGISLATIVE PAGE PROGRAM! 

I am truly and actually an official PEYge! 

Three cheers, everyone! This is AMAZING! 

I can't quite believe that I'll be spending not 2 weeks, not 4 weeks but 5 entire weeks this fall in Toronto learning all about our provincial government and working as a PEYge in the Legislature. 

I am so honoured to have been chosen. I know not many kids get the chance to do this. I'm really lucky and I plan on working really hard and taking advantage of everything the program has to offer. 

I hope you'll join me on this adventure by continuing to read my blog. 

Who knows? Maybe this is the beginning of my career in politics and one day you'll be able to say...

Hey... I read Premier Peyton's blog when she was a young PEYge!

WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!! :D 

Now I must go(at) and milk the goats. This afternoon I'm making cheese! I guess this experience will give me lots to talk about with Premier Wynne as she is also the Minister of Agriculture and Food! Wonder if she's ever milked a goat? ;) 

- PeyThePEYge

Waiting!

I don't consider myself to be a very patient person. I don't like waiting. I don't like surprises either, so when you have to wait for surprises... that's just about as intolerable as you can imagine! 

Right now I'm waiting for a really big surprise! Whether or not I've been accepted into the Legislative Page Program. 

The Page Program, just so you know, is a really amazing experience for kids in grade 7 and 8 who want to learn about the government and work in the Legislature at Queen's Park in Toronto. If you're accepted, you get to stay in Toronto for 2 weeks to 4 weeks and work at Queen's Park every day! 

I wanted to apply for a few reasons. I have been hearing really interesting stories from my Boppa (that's my grandfather) about when he was the Reeve (like a mayor) of a town for about 13 years. He talked about all of the cool things he was able to do (and even how he was almost arrested at a protest once) because he was in politics.

I also am really passionate about making change. When my sister and I created the Share Your Hair Project, we learned about how to work with other people to get things done and make a real difference in the world around us.  I learned that one of the best ways of making change is by being a part of the government. Our government makes all sorts of rules and laws and changes all of the time! When I saw the video of our Member of Provincial Parliament, Steve Clark, standing up in the Legislature talking about the Share Your Hair Project and I saw the Pages in the background doing their jobs, I thought "hey! That's something I can do!" 

Not long after our Share Your Hair Project, my sister and I started the Show We CAN Lend A Hand Project for Habitat for Humanity. We were invited by MPP Clark to submit an Order Paper Question to the Minister of Environment because we want changes made to the Ontario recycling program. We asked the Minister if Ontario would consider starting a deposit program like they have in British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta where people pay a small deposit on their pop cans and plastic bottles and are refunded their money when they recycle their cans and bottles. It's such a good incentive for recycling! Going through the Order Paper Question process really made me think that I'd like to learn more about politics and the provincial government. 

So then came the HARD WORK! I had to write a 750 word essay about all of the things I'm involved with (like dance and swimming, school and volunteering, my projects) and why I want to be a Page and why I think I'd be a good one. 

I FINALLY finished my essay and it was time to submit the application. With the help of my awesome French teacher, and with my principal's permission, I sent it in. 

And now? 

WAAAAAITING!!!!

I don't know how long it will be before I hear back if I'm accepted. I know not many kids are chosen, so I'm not sure what my chances are, but I'm hopeful! 

I don't have any good luck rituals like wearing the same pair of socks (thank goodness, 'cause ewwww!!!) or sleeping with a spoon under my pillow ('cause owwww!!!!!) so I guess I'll just ask everyone else to do a good luck ritual for me! 

And let's all keep our fingers crossed! :D 

-PeyThePEYge