South Whidbey High School sophomore Leah Cook of Langley recently spent a week serving her state as Senate page.

Each week, selected students from across Washington come to Olympia to learn about the legislative process and help the Senate run smoothly.

Pages carry mail between offices and relay messages to the Senate floor. Pages also attend page school, where they participate in mock hearings, write their own bills and engage in debates.

Cook appreciated the role senators play in state government.

“I can see how hard the senators are working from being here,” she said. “There’s so much more that could be worked on. There isn’t enough time — it’s just a lot of work.”

Cook is a student at South Whidbey High School who enjoys boating, fishing and working as an intern at Whidbey General Hospital. She hopes to become a nurse or a lawyer.