Smithfield High School junior Grace Reon did herself a favor recently when she spent four weeks on Capitol Hill serving as a page in the U.S. Senate.

As a young woman who’s interested in public policy and politics, Reon couldn’t have found a better way to fill part of her summer than to be in the heart of where America’s laws are debated.

Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Reon spent a month serving in Washington. She and her fellow pages ensured senators had the correct information for the day’s business on their desks, then work in shifts sitting in the chamber ready to do errands for the senators and other officials.

Despite her experience with the debate team and her extensive reading about laws, Reon still had a lot to learn when she arrived in Washington. But she said she came home with a new perspective on bipartisanship in the nation’s capital, on public involvement in politics and even on her own future.

“There are a lot of things they do every day that have bipartisan support,” Reon told reporter Matthew Ward, noting that the lawmakers generally are friendly to one another and often join to support legislation that doesn’t get as much publicity as more divisive issues.

Reon also said it’s important for Americans to learn more about what the people they’ve elected are doing in Washington. She also has thoughts of studying pre-law or political science in the future and believes public office might be in her future.

Indeed, Reon served herself well in her summer activities. But if someone as smart and willing to serve as Reon does go into public service one day, perhaps she’ll be doing all of us a favor, as well.