By: Barry Engelhardt

As an eighth grader, Joshua, “Call me Josh,” Armstrong already values the power of learning through experience. He appreciates the lessons he's learned through real-world situations, as they've helped him realize what he most enjoys and tasks he'd like to avoid moving forward.

Josh recently had the honor of shadowing Ottawa Mayor Robert Hasty and running a city council meeting. While Josh beams with excitement as he talks about the experience, he playfully admits that politics aren't for him. Laughing, he shares, "I did it, I'm glad it's done. Too much responsibility."

While Josh admits that he was nervous, he thoroughly enjoyed his time. He stresses that he wasn't 'too nervous' and was able to focus on making a positive first impression by maintaining eye contact and providing a firm handshake. Josh adds that he got a bow tie especially for the occasion, as the mayor is well-known for his love of bow ties. "He always wears a bow tie, so I wore one," says Josh, who admits that his parents took him to purchase a bow tie especially for the occasion.

Before meeting with the mayor and participating in a city council meeting, he received a weekend tour of the city, learning different aspects of government and city utilities, including the police and fire department and the water treatment facility, and learning 'what makes the city work.'

The opportunity came about after Josh was one of three boys and three girls from multiple school districts selected to shadow various members of the Ottawa City Council. A group of teachers voted on the students and ultimately ran a city council meeting on behalf of the city.

While spending time with the mayor would have made a lasting impression on any eighth grader, Josh and the other students learned how and ultimately took over the night's city council meeting, with Josh acting as the presiding officer. "I already had an idea of how it was going to go. We had to say certain stuff. I memorized certain lines. I called for a motion."

Josh's interest in using opportunities to focus on self-discovery is a theme in and out of the classroom. He admits that he sometimes wants to push through and finish the work, but Josh adds that earning good grades is important as he looks toward the future. "I want to be that student that teachers remember," adds Josh.

Focusing on the future, Josh shares that his primary focus is to ensure he doesn't spend his life behind a desk, preferring to be active. "Anything where I'm not trapped indoors," he says. While Josh has played baseball and soccer for as long as he can remember, he's recently given up soccer to apply more time and energy to golf. He's hired a coach and loves competing against a small group, which often includes his older brother, Jacob. Jacob, a sophomore, plays for Ottawa's varsity golf squad. As we wrap up, Josh tells me, "City Council. Not my thing. I'm moving on." He pauses and smiles before adding, "I love golf. It's just an escape. I figure it out as I go."