By: Journalist Marley Hutchins (OU)
Wednesday marks the opening day of the First Session of the 56th Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature.
O.I.L. is an organization that has been changing lives since its founding in 1969.
Calia Walker, a five-star delegate from SE said “It (O.I.L.) has completely changed the course of my academic career. I’ve always been an outgoing confident person, but I have no second thoughts getting in front of people anymore.”
This sentiment is one shared by many delegates this session. One such delegate, Attorney General Renner Howell, has this to say about how O.I.L. has impacted his life, “One of the biggest things is just the connections that you make. I’ve met a lot of people in this organization, some of whom I think will be lifelong connections in all of my career aspirations.”
Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature improves more than just career connections, however. Noah Jones, a three-star delegate from ORU said, “When I first came into it (O.I.L.), frankly, I didn’t care at all. It was just another box to check off. Over the course of my time here, I’ve made great friends, I’ve made a lot of personal development, I’ve learned a lot about the Oklahoma legal system and it’s educated me, it’s broadened my horizons, and it’s allowed me to make connections with people I otherwise never would have been able to.”
Many delegates credit O.I.L. with helping them learn something new and make lasting friendships. Lieutenant Governor Faith Gregory said that “other than making me super duper busy, I just love how I’m always learning something new, I’m always making new friends, it’s just changing the way I view the world.”
Almost 200 delegates have gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol this week, and this session is sure to prove no different for them.