By LeeAnn Partin,

Hays High School

 

Out of the 1300 delegates this weekend, many get lost in translation- and more often than not, our newest delegates here are forgotten about! Despite this, one rookie has stood out amongst the crowd: Fatimah Sajid.

Her journey starts in Vista Ridge High School, combined with Austin’s District 2, with many of her peers choosing the legislative route. Delegate Sajid is one of the newest recruits to the legislative section, starting her first year as a freshman in this State Conference. Sajid is 14 years old, making her a part of some of the youngest Youth and Government members. For the first time, Sajid creates her bill for legislation: House Bill 124, an act to provide free healthcare to legal residents of Texas who make household incomes less than or equal to $59,999 per year. While Sajid’s bill was posted for unfavorable recommendation, she’s quickly learning from the experience on how to improve. With the goal to be a politician in mind, she’s taking this chance to grow her writing and learn more about the position she wants to take on through her experiences in Youth and Government, and her other extracurriculars.

While chatting with Sajid, she tells me a bit about herself. “I go to Vista Ridge High School. Everyone says it’s in Austin, but it’s technically in Cedar Park,” Sajid clears up. “I’m in the legislative section- everyone else in my school is in that too!” Because of this, Sajid explains it’s a difficult learning curve to go into any different section without help.

Jumping to Sajid’s assignments for her section, she details her thought process behind them. “My bill is made to help lower income and kind of middle-class families to afford basic healthcare, an unalienable right that we all have.” Sajid’s bill not being passed surprised her, but motivates her to try a different route for next year.

Despite spending her free time participating in Debate she also participates in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and enjoys spending time at the Mosque to help tutor refugees. Sajid explains how she also loves to dance; no dancing experience, just enjoys it!

So far, she’s loving her first experience at state and is coming back with fire next year. Watch out delegates, Fatimah Sajid is ready to shine.

 

Fatimah Sajid during Question and Answer time in Committee B for delegate Theodore Nguyen’s bill