Marlboro Twp. Teen Will Attend SOTU Tuesday Night

MARLBORO TOWNSHIP, NJ — It will be hardly just another Tuesday evening for Sabrina Schnurr. This 19-year-old young woman, who grew up in Marlboro Township, will attend President Trump's State of the Union address this evening, as a guest of Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ6).

Rep. Pallone is the Democratic congressman who has represented New Jersey's sixth Congressional district for years (since 1988); the district stretches from Woodbridge down through New Brunswick and along Raritan bay-front towns such as Keansburg, Hazlet and into Asbury Park. It also slightly stretches into rural Monmouth County, and includes Marlboro Twp.

Some guests of New Jersey delegates this evening are overtly political and viewed as an attack on President Trump: Fellow New Jersey Democratic Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, for example, is bringing an undocumented worker who worked as a housekeeper at Trump National golf course in New Jersey. Rep. Pallone, a frequent Trump critic, went in that direction last year, bringing Esder Chong, a Rutgers University sophomore and DACA recipient who would likely be deported if Trump ends the "Dreamers" program. Read: Highland Park 'Dreamer,' SOTU Guest Explains Her Immigration Status

This year, Pallone just wanted to reward an intern, said his office. Sabrina was randomly selected.

Schnurr started interning for Rep. Pallone this January. She acknowledged that tonight is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and something that many will never get to experience.

"I am super excited to be going tonight," she told Patch today, speaking from Pallone's office in Washington, D.C. "It should be a surreal experience."

Schnurr attended Marlboro Memorial Middle School and Colts Neck High School, and she is currently a sophomore at Boston University. She took advantage of a unique program BU offers that allows her to live and intern in D.C. for the spring, and take college classes at night. She lives in a Boston University dorm in D.C.

As she always had an interest in politics (she attended the law and public service program at Colts Neck High), Schnurr knew she wanted to intern for a member of Congress. She didn't have any special connection to Rep. Pallone, but was just aware that he was her local congressman.

"I just went online and found out how to apply and wrote the good old cover letter, resume and writing sample back in November," she told Patch. She was one of six interns selected for the spring 2019 semester; most of Rep. Pallone's interns hail from New Jersey. "It's been super interesting to see politics through my own eyes instead of from CNN on TV. People always say that people on the Hill don't get anything done, but I've honestly just seen how busy everyone is. There really aren't enough hours in the day."

So far her job duties include answering phone calls, emails and constituent issues.

"For the past two weeks, we've gotten a lot of calls about the shutdown and the wall and people want to voice their opinions about it," she said.

Interning for a Democratic congressman, what are her thoughts on Trump?

"I think Trump is very divisive, but I'm looking forward to his message tonight, in what I'm hoping will be a message of unity and optimism for the future," said Schnurr.

Trump's speech begins at 9 p.m., but Schnurr has to get ready early. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. for the elected members of Congress and their guests. Above, she shows her ticket to attend the State of the Union.

All photos provided by the office of Rep. Frank Pallone.

Related: Highland Park 'Dreamer,' SOTU Guest Explains Her Immigration Status