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The summer of 2005 my good friend told me I should join Youth and Government. He told me that Youth and Government is an organization that helps youth understand the government through enacting the functions of the judicial and legislative branches of the government, or through media reporting about the branches. The organization helps youth develop self confidence, acceptance, and tolerance for other people and different ideas. It’s also a good way to make new friends. I heard all this and I said “that sounds good, but I don’t have time for it. Besides, how do you know I will like it? It’s my freshman year in high school and I think I had better take things easy this year.” So for that year he didn’t talk to me about Youth and Government. However, as soon as fall 2006 came, my friend’s reactivated efforts made sure I was in the organization. As a high school sophomore, I became an attorney in the local Weatherford group. In 2007, during my junior year, I was elected Youth and Government Northern District Judge for the state of Oklahoma. Subsequently, I was asked to attend the annual Conference on National Affairs
(CONA) in North Carolina. Over 500 United States high school students participate in this conference as delegates from their state and local groups. Every delegate must prepare a proposal on a matter of national or international importance, present the proposal, and debate it. I was very nervous about the new experience of writing and presenting such a proposal to audiences of people I didn’t know. I researched and developed a proposal entitled “Make Adoptions of Foster Care Children in the United States a National Priority”. My proposal did not make it past the first round of elimination, but it didn’t matter. I learned so much, had a wonderful time, and made friends from all over the nation who I remain in touch with today. It was the best time I had that summer and because of it I made a goal on the bus ride back to Oklahoma that I wanted to become a state officer and be asked to return to CONA in the summer of 2008. At the Youth and Government Oklahoma State Conference in February 2008, I decided I would run for Vice Presiding Judge. So, I took the skills I learned from the past years and started campaigning. I was stopped by one of my CONA friends who told me firmly that I needed to run for a higher office. I followed her advice by running and being elected to the office of Chief Justice for Oklahoma. Being elected to office helped me meet my goal of going back to CONA again in 2008. My 2008 CONA proposal was “Make the United States Independent of Foreign Oil”. At CONA I met and partnered with a Pennsylvania delegate whose proposal objective had similarities to mine. We combined our efforts to present and debate as a team. We were so pleased when we were able to take our proposal to the third round of the conference. On the last night of CONA 2008 I had the honor of holding the Oklahoma flag in the closing ceremonies of the conference. While standing in front of the Oklahoma group, I witnessed the patriotism that two of my friends have when they stepped out of the crowd and saluted the American flag. At that moment I realized what the Youth and Government organization means to me. I now have a family of friends from coast to coast, who love me, who will fight for their country, and who will stand up for what they believe. Youth and Government has given me everything that my friend said it would and so much more. I found a new part of myself through Youth and Government. I have received a greater understanding of different cultures, ideas, religious beliefs, and our system of government. I have a greater pride for our country. I have new cherished friendships across our great nation. My unique Youth and Government efforts to learn, to improve, and to teach others have led me to a better understanding of myself, my own values, and my personal goals. Thanks to my experiences in Youth and Government, I am a changed person. |
Alumni Stories 
