As the center of the federal government, Washington, D.C., can attract many politically and historically aware individuals to its city.

Some students are given the opportunity to visit for a few days, but a select few are given the opportunity to live, work and attend school in the center of U.S. politics.

Daniel Clark, a student at Brookhaven High School, has been selected as one of the standout high school juniors in the country to serve as a U.S. Senate page from Sept. 5 to Jan. 16.

As part of the program, he will attend Senate Page School where he will be enrolled in rigorous history, science, math and English classes along with the 30 other selected pages from across the country. In addition, the Page School will require Clark to spend several weekends on field trips throughout the D.C. area.

Clark applied for the page position and credits U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s seniority for the opportunity. Pages must be nominated by a senator, and since they only take 30 each semester, only 60 students get the opportunity each year. With 100 Senators, not every senator gets a nomination, but senators with the most seniority are given nominations

Clark said he is most excited about the educational opportunities. Although he will have to report to class at 6:15 a.m. each day, he looks forward to learning from the entire experience.

“To see how the politics of America works really appeals to me,” he said.

After graduation, Clark plans on studying adolescent psychology, focusing on therapy. Clark sees the upcoming journey as a way to help prepare for that goal.

“I’ll be able to meet some of the most influential people in the country,” he said.

Clark also expects the four months away from his parents to teach him to become more independent. He will have to learn to manage his own time and adapt to more freedom.

Eligibility into the page program requires applicants to be juniors in high school and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Each page must be sponsored by a senator.

The first Senate page was appointed in 1829. Grafton Handson was a 9-year-old boy, appointed by Sen. Daniel Webster. Today, pages continue to serve as messengers and helpers.

Senate page duties consists of delivering correspondence and legislative material, preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.

Daniel is the son of Jeff and Shannon Clark.