In fact, the reason Giana and Kaye were out of school for a week was because the two girls were nominated for a National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Giana's teachers at Lincoln High School nominated her for the conference, and Valley Christian High School student Jennifer was nominated by the College Board.

"It's basically a conference that brings students from all over the United States together for six days in Washington to learn how our government works, what our leaders do to run this country and how we can become good leaders and role models back in our community," Giana said.

Jennifer said the conference gave her a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the inner workings of the nation's political structure.

"I didn't know much about government and how the country works, so I was glad to go," she said. "I learned a lot. There are so many different things politicians have to do. It's kind of overwhelming."

Being in the nation's capitol for the first time was also a memorable experience for Jennifer.

"I loved seeing the sites, especially Capitol Hill," she said. "I love art and architecture."

But Jennifer said she was also struck by the disparity between the city's wealthy and poor.

"It's kind of weird," she said. "You drive through a ghetto one minute and then a really nice part the next."

In addition to touring the nation's capital, Giana and Jennifer met with several elected officials from California.

Of her meeting with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Giana said, "It was very, very cool."

"She spoke with us about San Jose, how she got started and her career path and she asked us a lot of questions about what we wanted to do."

That meeting lasted about 20 minutes, then Lofgren walked Giana and some other students over to watch a session of Congress.

Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein also met with Giana and other California students.

"They talked to us for about 15 to 20 minutes about how they got started and where we are today," Giana said.

The person that most impressed Giana was Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"He was wonderful," Giana said.

"I found him to be kind and respectful toward us, he addressed us like adults," she said.

"He was very honest and made very direct statements in regards to our government. If I had the opportunity to hear him speak again, I would."

Jennifer also impressed by Wilkerson.

"He had a good message," she said. "He was saying that the country is not that protected, which is sort of scary. But he was very blunt, and I like blunt people. He wasn't afraid to scare us."

One of the highlights of the girls' trip, however, was acting out a model congress in the Department of the Interior offices.

"We were all given roles and I was able to get up and speak," Giana said.

It was as exercise, she said, where everyone was expected to "get into character and do the best we could with whatever role we were given, no matter what."

Giana was assigned to the "Republican side, addressing the issue of terrorists coming into America on short-term visas."

While Giana said she had no problem role playing, some students did.

"It was difficult for some kids with strong opinions," she said. "You have to get into character and shift your mind. It's just role-playing and we all did the best we could. Everyone gave 110 percent in everything."

Jennifer, who had to put aside her conservative leanings to play a Democrat in the intelligence committee, said she found the experience eye-opening.

"Afterward, I could see the Democratic point of view more," she said. "So many of the Democrats I worked with are really Republicans, and we all agreed it was helpful."

Although Jennifer said she reads the newspaper every day, and appreciates the service aspect of a governmental position, she does not harbor political ambitions. The 17-year-old plans to study nursing in college, and dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse.

But although her career goals lie elsewhere, Jennifer is proactive about politics. She said that once she reaches voting age--her 18th birthday is on Dec. 15-- she plans to encourage her peers to visit the polling booth.

"If you vote, tell your friends," she said, "it doesn't make you a dork. It's like a cool thing. You are standing up for what you believe in. And if you get others to vote for something, it will count more."

Meanwhile, at Lincoln High School, Giana is also reaching out to her fellow students.

She is currently president of the National Honor Society, which has 45 members.

"This taught me how to be more directed and confident when I speak and address my fellow members," she said.

Giana, who turned 18 on Nov. 15, said she isn't certain where she will go to college yet.

"I'd like to continue somewhere in California, I don't intend to go out of state," she said.

"I'm looking toward psychology as a major. I'd like to become an art therapist, taking the art and creativity side and the business side and put them together."

It was Giana's art instructors at Lincoln who nominated her for the Conference.

"Giana is my National Honor Society president and I thought this was an effective, additional tool she could use," Eileen Zamora said. "It expands their world to see what's happening beyond here."

Fellow instructor Kim Bartel said, "Giana has a true servant's heart. She steps up to whatever task you ask her to do and she gives it 110 percent. She's what every teacher loves to work with, she's a dream student."

The National Young Leaders Conference is held 17 times throughout the school year with about 400 students participating in each one. The students or their families pay tuition and travel expenses.

The NYLC is part of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational organization founded in 1985.

Although the girls were friends before they went to the conference, and have been friends since they were seventh-graders at San Jose Christian School, they both appreciated the opportunity to meet other students from across the country. Giana said the 14 members in her leadership group formed strong bonds with one another.

"We were with each other 24 hours a day for six days," she said. "We became close instantly and we are still communicating through email. We're trying to keep the friendships we formed."

While meeting students from different regions of the United States, Jennifer discovered something surprising--being from California is something of a novelty to people who live outside the Golden State.

"The awesome thing was learning how people react to you when you say you are from California. They would say, 'Are you from the O.C.? Do you surf?'" she said, laughing. "I've never been on a surfboard in my life."

Staff writer Meghan O'Hare contributed to this article.