Emerson Whitford flew on an airplane, rode on public transportation and visited a large city, all for the first time last month when she earned a trip to Washington, D.C.

The junior at Whitefish Independent High School wrote a winning essay in the Jobs for Montana Graduates state competition. She was selected as one of four Montana students who earned a spot at the JAG National Student Leadership Academy.

“There were so many different cultures and personalities,” she said. “I never thought about being anywhere else in the world until I saw it.”

This is the second year Whitford has participated in JMG, which focuses preparing students for life through learning leadership and teamwork skills, selecting career goals and teaching them workplace skills. Students also complete a number of community service projects.

“JMG can make such a difference in student lives and allow opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have,” teacher Beth Hanson said. “What makes the trip so valuable for Emerson is that she got to do something she hasn’t done before.”

Whitford’s essay focused on the challenges she has had to overcome in her own life and how JMG has helped with that. She said JMG has pushed her out of her comfort zone.

“I’ve always been nervous to meet new people,” she said. “I always try to take a friend with me when I have to meet new people.”

Working as a waitress last spring at the WIHS restaurant night forced Whitford to talk to people she didn’t know. Getting donations for the event also meant she had to call people.

Her essay mentioned one other lesson Whitford says has been important to her life. When the JMG group headed to Glacier National Park to volunteer in harvesting seeds the day was plagued by rain, and while the students weren’t prepared for the weather they still got the job done.

“Everyone was able to power through and give back to the community because that’s important,” she said.

Whitford spent the few days in Washington, D.C. at team building and leadership training sessions. She also got to visit several monuments on the National Mall.

The trip was once again that push beyond her comfort zone as she joined 800 other students for the conference.

“I was really nervous,” she said. “But I knew I needed the experience. I’m going to be on my own someday and that’s a real thing that I have to prepare for.”

She made friends with her roommates and learned quickly the ways to start a conversation with the other students who were in the same position of not knowing anyone else.

“I had a lot more opportunity to be on my own and talk to other students,” she said. “I was in an unfamiliar situation and I had to adapt and be flexible.”