Inauguration Ceremony
Hi everyone! My name is Saanvi and I am a cabinet member for the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor program. I’m very excited to write my first blog and share my experience of the inauguration ceremony.
I woke up at 6:30 am, and rushed downstairs for breakfast. My mom gave me 3 pancakes – 1 big, 1 medium and 1 very very small , which I enjoyed with lots of maple syrup. After breakfast, I got ready. I wore a black dress with a pink blazer and really bothersome tights. Once I got ready, we all hopped in the car, to go to Salem.
Once we reached Salem, we parked and walked 2 blocks to the capitol building. We had to go through the security and after that through these “gold” elevators to the second floor. Then we went to the Senate Chambers where the event was being held. We were a little early and since my mom loves taking pictures, she started taking pics which got annoying for me (lol!). The room was dark brown with a wooden interior and lots of chairs and a podium right in the front. The podium had the US and Oregon flag and a screen. There was a big picture in the background saying “Oregon admitted into the union Feb 14th 1859.”
As I was sitting, one of the officials came and asked me if I was the 2024 kid governor? I felt like I should have said “yes” but I said “no” and then introduced myself.
I met Nikki Fisher in person and she gave me an envelope from the Oregon Governor. The envelope had the “Commemorative reprint and transcription of the original 1857 Oregon state constitution.” It had a printed version on the left hand side and the original cursive copy on the right hand pages. The other highlight was a letter signed by the Governor. I am very excited to be able to have such rare souvenirs.
As the event started, we had Secretary of State,(SoS) Tobias Read welcoming us. After that, the 2024 kid governor gave the pledge of allegiance, then the former Chief Justice invited all the cabinet members to come upfront and go to the podium. There I shared my 3-point plan about my platform of “Reducing Homelessness and providing basic amenities to those unhoused” Then the former Chief Justice gave cabinet members the “Oath of Office” and at the end said, “I do.” Then the 2025 kid governor gave her speech followed by closing remarks from SoS. After the event, I took pics with SoS and the former Chief Justice.
There were Oregon shaped cookies so I decided to take and share them with my teacher and principal.
There was a local reporter who was invited to interview all the kids. We were not given any list of questions to prepare for the interview. She asked me about my platform and how it started, what I do and who helped me. At the end, she asked my mom to join for the interview and share how as a parent she felt about the program. I was very happy to have an opportunity to interview with my mom.
It was a long but very memorable and fun day and I can’t wait to start working on my 3-point plan and collaborate with all during my term!
