Student of the Week: Fox Lane High School's Lisdy Contreras-Giron

The gregarious, up-and-coming Fox Lane High School student was chosen as one of two 2014 New York representatives for Girls Nation, a national student leadership program run by the

Contreras-Giron, 17, just returned from a week in Washington, DC, spent learning about American government and politics with 98 other young women from all over the country.

The group met veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, visited Arlington National Cemetery, toured the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and participated in a mock Senate.

The highlight of the trip? Meeting and shaking hands with President Barack Obama, Contreras-Giron said with a grin.

She also ran into Charles Schumer, D-New York, who stopped and spoke with the Girls Nation and Boys Nation reps....

The Guatemalan-born, Westchester-raised teen said the experience resonated with her "bi-cultural" identity -- it made her feel more at home as a hard-working American and reminded her that it's important to preserve her heritage (her family speaks Spanish at home and maintains many Guatemalan customs.)

Contreras-Giron  is looking for colleges in New York and plans to go law school after graduating in June.

Follow her on Twitter @Lisdy_Contreras and check out my video interview with her, here: