16-year-old Pearl Black had the opportunity of a lifetime earlier this week when she visited the nation’s capital for the first time, representing Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Black was one of 100 youth across Canada selected to spend Tuesday (Nov. 7) shadowing a Member of Parliament in Ottawa.

All part of the fourth annual YOUth In Office: Shadowing Day on Parliament Hill program, Black received a tour of Parliament Hill and even had the chance to sit in for a question period at the House of Commons.

It’s an experience, Black will never forget.

“It was super exciting. I felt pretty overwhelmed because there was quite a bit of people who were going and I’m an introvert and I also have social anxiety. It was a bit tough, but it was a great experience.”

Black has lived in Red Deer for the past four years, spending three years as a mentee in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and is now a mentor.

She said there were many highlights on the trip.

“We also had a few aboriginal youth advocacy groups who came to the hotel and did some guest speaking for us.”

“They talked about their culture, how politics have affected their lives and what they’re trying to do, like reconciliation and stuff like that. That was really interesting.”

The Initiative was designed in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Boys and Girls Club of Canada to inspire young people to become more civic-minded Canadians by exposing them to politics and the country’s democratic process.