Albany High seniors had the opportunity to participate in a thought-provoking , giving them insights into his role in government and how he is approaching issues that are impacting our city, state, country and world.
During his visit, Congressman Tonko shared his journey as a public servant, fielding a variety of questions thoughtfully prepared by students in Albany High teacher Sean Fitzsimons’ Advanced Placement US Government & Politics course.
Questions asked of Congressman Tonko included:
- What’s the day in the life of a Congressperson look like and what are the biggest struggles in your average day?
- How has polarization impacted your work and ability to effectively pursue specific policies?
- You recently led the sending of a letter with 50 other House of Representative members calling on the president to take tangible actions that lower energy bills. What can we do in Albany to help push your message and help lower energy prices?
By listening to Congressman Tonko's responses, students made real-world connections with the concepts they are learning about in class, and most importantly, they had the opportunity to share their voices, both individually and collectively, as citizens who care about our community here in Albany and beyond.
"Congressman Tonko was very genuine, and the way he conveyed his words was engaging," shared Asia Green. "I liked his message and what he stood for."
We extend our gratitude to Congressman Tonko for investing in our students here at Albany High, and we know they will carry his words of affirmation and inspiration with them as they graduate this coming June.