Laena Fallon ’05 Passionate about Politics
By Bob Lindquist

Growing up in Strafford, N.H., Laena Fallon had her eyes focused on becoming a ballet dancer. That is, until she was 16 when an injury cut her dancing career short and forced her to seek other interests. Her next passion—some might call it an obsession—became politics, thanks in large part to her grandmother and a trip overseas.

“She has always been very political and is quite outspoken,” says Fallon of her grandmother, “and we have great political discussions.”

The year was 2000, an election year, and a New Hampshire primary year—a great time to be interested in politics and living in New Hampshire. It was also a threshold year for Fallon. The messages of Sen. John McCain inspired her to volunteer on his N.H. presidential primary campaign. When that concluded she dived into Youth Forum 2000.

On a trip to Turkey early that summer, Fallon witnessed first hand the struggles of a young democracy. “The people were excited about voting,” she says. While she returned home with a new respect for America’s stable and well-established democratic process, she was ashamed of Americans’ apathy toward voting. “In Turkey nearly everyone votes,” says Fallon, “and they take their responsibility very seriously.”

Upon returning home, Fallon wasted little time getting involved.

She helped create a mock state government with Girls State, a program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. From Girls State she was selected one of two senators from New Hampshire to join Girls Nation, a national week-long program in Washington, D.C., to learn more about structure and functions of the federal government.

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