COURTLAND
Staci Taroli, a senior at Southampton High School, will witness history this Friday when she’s in Washington, D.C. That’s when and where she’ll witness Donald Trump being sworn in as the next president of the United States of America.

If she could have voted, Taroli said she would have cast her ballot for him. As it was, the student was still 17 years old on Election Day; in fact, she became 18 only a couple of weeks ago.

“He speaks his mind, but he could use a filter,” she said. “He speaks the truth and has good perspective for America’s future.”

The occasion for the trip is to attend a leadership conference for students her age. The previous one she attended focused on national security; this year’s theme will reportedly focus on the presidency, though she didn’t yet have the syllabus.

Her participation in the conference series came through a teacher, though Taroli doesn’t know who made the recommendation.

“It’s a very good experience,” she said.

As yet, Taroli’s thinking of a career in the Environmental Protective Agency.

Attending the inauguration is, she acknowledged, sort of a bonus. Where the conference attendees will be situated is unknown, but Taroli said she’s prepared to dress warmly.

A gala celebration is scheduled on Saturday night, and she’ll return on Sunday.

To the best of her knowledge, the student is the only person she knows from school who will go to the nation’s capital for the inauguration.

She is the daughter of Tripp Vinson and Lora Taroli-Vinson, and sister to Brooke Taroli, Linsey Taroli and Sydney Taroli.