On the first day of the VGS simulation, everyone from a variety of schools in different parts of Virginia looked to be cordial with one another. Then again, there was a variation in population across schools since there were 18 Virginia Commonwealth University Students compared to 1 person from Virginia Tech. Even though everyone in the simulation was already familiar with one another, it was still a very welcoming environment. I could see that everyone was eager to begin the simulation, especially when we didn’t know what to anticipate.

When we came to the leader and whip nominations, everything started to unravel. When four delegates ran for nomination, the split became apparent. Members who supported one delegate due to his popular reputation demonstrated prejudice towards the committee. Especially when they discuss the characteristics of the other delegates. From that point on, committees were separated, mostly between rural and urban schools.

This difference has had an impact on how most committee members feel about one another. One of the participants stated that there was a lack of trust, which is upsetting given that one of the intentions was to compromise with the other party despite the fact that there was little possibility they would. Along with how certain measures were approved without knowledge of other delegates and saying that we shouldn’t consider a specific region of Virginia. Which I found unexpected.

The next day, the majority of members said that the republican party's regional gap was beginning to narrow. However, in the 2nd committee as a whole, the gap between Republicans and Democrats was more obvious. House Bill 318, for example, establishes responsible conduct standards for the Virginia firearms industry. Republicans agreed that if the bill succeeded, it would destroy wildlife in rural Virginia. Meanwhile, the Democrats were outspoken about the impact of gun regulation, particularly background checks. This made it appear like Republicans were more supportive of rural life in Virginia, whilst Democrats were more concerned with overall safety.

As a result, I believe there was a prejudice inside the Republican committee as a whole, but the Democratic committee did not encounter any of these concerns. The committee's split may have had an impact on the group's ability to operate together. However, I believe everyone did an excellent job with their duties in this simulation. Each item that was debated was met with enthusiasm and professionalism from all members. Hopefully, next year, there will be a better way to communicate and ensure that everyone feels accepted and heard in both committees.