Welcome to the Constitutional Convention of 1787! Never before has our young nation witnessed such a gathering of some of the greatest intellectual and political powerhouses in the country. Though we all arrive from different delegations and hold our own beliefs, prejudices, and loyalties, our task here in Philadelphia, though by no means easy, should unite us. As many of you are aware, the situation in these thirteen United States is quite dire. The recent lawlessness in Massachusetts, the increasing threat from global powers, and our dilapidated economy have all shown the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Our duty over the course of our four days together will be to draft a document that will not only alleviate our current problems, but also establish a strong framework for centuries ahead. Ultimately, we are designing a document that will not only define our government but also will fundamentally define us as a people and as a nation.
There are those who say that our great experiment in democracy shall crumble. Let us utilize the best of our critical and creative thinking skills to prove our adversaries wrong. If we succeed, fellow delegates, posterity shall remember our names for ages to come. This is the time where we can finally have a say in the type of government that shall rule us. This is the time where we can finally ensure that the principles of our Revolution do not perish. This is the time where we can finally shape and influence history.
My name is Lauren Faraino, and I, along with Lisa Wang, cannot wait to hear the great ideas that you all will bring to the 2012 conference! This is my second year as chair of the Constitutional Convention Committee and my third year as a member of HMC. I am a junior at Harvard studying government and philosophy, with a focus on American political theory. Outside of classes, I teach civics to elementary students and work with different tutoring and mentoring services in Boston. I’m also involved with the arts both on and off campus and have been painting for about 15 years. My greatest passion, however, is sports, which is to be expected since I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama. I’m so looking forward to learning more about each of you in February; it’s going to be a great year!
My name is Lisa Wang, and I too am very excited to meet you next February here in Boston! I was born in New York City and currently live in North Brunswick, New Jersey. I went to school for a while in Kunming, China, where my extended family still lives. I became involved in Model Congress during my freshman year of high school, and I loved my experiences in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court. I am currently a member of the Class of 2014, and I plan to concentrate in Government (a synthesis of international relations and political science) with a secondary in Ethnic Studies. When I am not involved in Harvard Model Congress, I like to run, take ballet classes, and tutor Harvard employees and Boston natives for the U.S. citizenship exam.
As the two presidents of the Constitutional Convention, we will be guiding you along the way as you establish the United States of America. If you have any questions in the time leading up to the conference, please do not hesitate to contact either of us. We are absolutely ecstatic that you will be joining us at the Constitutional Convention! We look forward to meeting all of you in your powdered wigs and late 18th century garb. (Of course, you do not have to wear such things, but you will basically be our favorite person if you do). See you in February!
Best Regards,