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| Samantha Tucker with Rev. Don Bremer. NSB News photo by Sera King |
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Samantha Tucker is wise beyond her youthful 17 as she carries a lit candle holder to the front of the United Methodist Church to light the candles to begin the Sunday worship. She'll take a different path in January -- one that will bring her to the nation's capital to witness the presidential inauguration.
The incoming senior at New Smyrna Beach High School has a lot going for her in a world where so many teens struggle with peer pressure, come from broken homes or have little direction. That comes with having strong family presence in her church.
In fact, Tucker is a fourth generation member of First United Methodist. There's great-grandmother Joan Mawti, 81; grandparents Paul and Carolyn Nolan, and parents Jim and Michele Tucker, all of New Smyrna Beach.
Samantha Tucker, though, is the most visible on Sundays -- a role model to the younger children, an example to others her age and an inspiration to the older generations.
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| Samantha Tucker of NSB visited Congressman Tom Fenney in Washington D.C. office during her last trip to the nation's capital. |
"She serves as the acolyte -- symbolic of bringing in the light of the Lord into the church sanctuary," says the Rev. Don Bremer. "Her spirit is bright -- she is very mature. She, too, lights up the church."
It's that same enlightened spirit that Samantha Tucker hopes to take with her on her journey to the capitol. Though not old enough to vote in November, Tucker says nevertheless she's excited about her trip to Washington D.C. to see the swearing in ceremony for the next U.S. president. She hasn't decided on Democrat Barack Obama, the senator from Illinois, or Republican John McCain, the senator from Arizona.
"I still need to study up on both of them," she says. "It's possible we could have history being made with the first African-American president" or the Vietnam War hero in McCain. She adds, "Obama talks about change, but McCain is experienced so I need to study up on both of them."
Tucker says she learned a lot during her initial trip to Washington last year with the National Youth Leadership Conference where she met local dignitaries such as Congressman Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, whose congressional district includes Southeast Volusia.
The trip this time around is part of the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference. She will be on hand for the Jan. 20 swearing in ceremony. The trip costs $3,000 and so far through fund-raising she has paid for half of it. Her transportation costs are being underwritten by Atlas Travel of Daytona Beach. Besides the inauguration, she 'll attend the Inaugural Ball and meet other high-profile dignitaries, including Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong and former Sen. John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth. She will also attend seminars and speeches on Capitol Hill.
Her biggest impression of Washington politics from her initial visit is the aura of power.
"You feel it just stepping off the plane and everywhere you go," she says. "There, you have a different mindset."
Tucker understands power comes through knowledge, which is why she has maintained a 3.5 grade-point average and has maintained her standing as a member of the National Honor Society. She also has memberships in the Avid College Prep Program and the Spanish Club.
Tucker hasn't decided on a college or a field of study, though her interests are politics, medicine, accounting and photography.
While Tucker recognizes that not a lot of teens attend church, she enjoys the experience and the spirituality that comes with her Sunday routine.
"I'm just like everyone else," she says of her happy, go-lucky demeanor, pointing out she drives, has a cell phone and "likes boys."
Tucker says she feels at home in the church on Sundays, having returned with her family about two years ago, after an absence that began when she was about 4. She points out that she was baptized at the First United Methodist a year ago at Easter.
As for whether it is cool or uncool at school and attending church, Tucker says of the peer pressure, "I don't care what people think about me and I'm not one of those people who makes announcements that they're going. I'm going to be there with God and to pray."
While seeing the presidential inauguration is a once-in a lifetime experience, Tucker says she never grows tired of the experiences she receives on Sundays in her beloved church: It's serene. It's a spiritual place."
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