A Clinton resident and student at The Morgan School received a rare and prestigious honor when he was selected to be a senate page in Washington D.C. during the fall term for United States Senator Chris Murphy (D).

Daniel Radka, 16, arrived in Washington for his first day on the job on Sept. 5. Radka is attending school at the Page School in Washington.

As for his duties, according to a press release from Chris Murphy, “Page responsibilities include delivery of correspondence and legislative materials within the Congressional complex, taking messages for members, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.”

Radka found out in August that there was an opening in the program and interviewed soon after. Radka will be in Washington until January, when he will return to Clinton.

Besides the work with the Senate, Radka had to get used to living alone and going to a new school.

As far as how it’s going, it’s tough to say—literally. Pages’ cell phones are confiscated during their stay in Washington, meaning Radka can only communicate by a shared phone in the dorm or via email. Due to a program policy, Radka cannot comment in interviews before the program ends in January.

In a press release from Senator Murphy’s office, Radka is quoted as saying, “I am very honored to have been granted the opportunity to serve as a senate page. I am looking forward to experiencing the highest level of our nation’s government firsthand while simultaneously being educated about its inner workings and processes. I’m hoping to learn as much as I can about the United States Senate, its members, and the legislation that will pass through its chamber during my tenure as a page.”

For Radka’s parents, seeing him move away from home at a young age has been “bittersweet,” but something they’re happy to see their son do.

“We’re incredibly proud of him,” said Dan’s father David Radka, though having his son leave home before college was unexpected. “Like any parent there’s a little trepidation...It was two years sooner than we expected.”

While the teenager’s selection for the program and seeing him move away earlier than expected may have been a surprise for his parents, his interest in politics was not.

“He’s been interested in politics for quite a whole,” said Radka, who noted his son has been a member of the Political Club at Morgan.