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When Katie Kirk makes her bid for vice president of the Holton-Arms School student body, she'll be doing so with the encouragement of Nancy Pelosi herself.

The Speaker of the House told students at the all-girls school Thursday night to get involved in civic life any way they could, and especially encouraged them to run for office if that's where their ambitions lay.

"When you think about where you want to go forward…just know how needed you are. How could it be that one-fifth of the members of Congress are women?" Pelosi asked the group of about 500 including students and their families. "We know that's not the distribution of the talent pool."

Kirk, an eighth-grader from Great Falls, Va., was ebullient following a brief exchange with Pelosi at the book signing that concluded the evening.

"She is such an important figure in U.S. history," Kirk said. "I feel like her whole story is really inspirational."

Pelosi, who is second in the order of presidential succession and is the highest-ranking elected woman in American history, came to the Bethesda school to offer advice to the students and plug her book, "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters." The one-and-a half-hour talk was arranged through a Holton-Arms parent on Pelosi's staff.

Pre-screened student questions were read by Fox 5 News anchor Laura Evans, the evening's host, and included queries about what Pelosi would do as president, what advice she could offer girls hoping to become involved in politics and whether she supported giving Washington D.C. a voice in the House of Representatives. She said yes.

"I'm from D.C. so I like that," said eighth-grader Mackenzie Adelberg, who was inspired by Pelosi's own status as an all-girls-school alumna. "She started out just like us, going to an all-girls school, she thought she'd have a normal life, get a job and have a nice family and she ended up one of the most politically important people in America. I just hope I can be like her."

None of the questions touched on the controversy surrounding Pelosi's comments earlier in the day about the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation methods and whether or not Congress was informed.

Pelosi, who grew up in Baltimore, recounted tales of breaking through what she called the "marble ceiling," and gave credit to the women's suffragists who paved the way for her.

"I stand on their shoulders, my younger [House] members stand on mine, my daughters, and you stand on theirs," Pelosi said.

When asked what would be the best course of study for a woman looking to enter the political realm, Pelosi repeated her primary message: Do what is best for you.

"Just study what you want to learn, and it's all very useful for now," Pelosi said, adding that a strong foundation in American history would be useful. "The best way to do it for you is the way you want to do it."

Susanna Jones, the head of school, said Pelosi's life embodies the Holton-Arms motto, "I will find a way or make one."

Pelosi told the students that the motto was a great way to live.

"I want to see a room full of dreamers," she said, "but I want to see some planning as well for how to achieve those dreams."

Kaelin Brittin of Bethesda said Pelosi's example of planning and determination is a theme that her history class has been discussing and one she hopes to embody.

"She's a political icon for women everywhere," Brittin said. "I hope to do it just like that."