IMO:
There is value in working with people you disagree with. Everything is (or can be) a learning experience. Senator got elected, meaning at least 50.1% of people in your district agree with that person.
As adults, we work with people we don’t like and do things we may not enjoy all the time. As a HS kid, doesn’t OP want to see why they may disagree with their State majority? What is it about the Senator that people support, even if OP doesn’t.
As for the comment on SCOTUS, there is not a liberal I know who regretted clerking for O’Connor.