I started at the Culver-Palms Family YMCA in freshman year. My neighbor Axel introduced me. He brought me into one of the pre-meetings where you could still go without a commitment, and I spoke on the podium I see right here, and I was horrible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was super flustered, my face got super red, but I still got applauded, I got encouraged, and that’s what motivated me to keep going. And from then on, I’ve been in the program until now [2026] <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve now done appellate court to the second appellate court, and from that, I went into NJC, which is the National Judicial Competition. I took that more judicial angle through the program, and I really loved it. I’m the president of my mock trial team now, and I would attribute a big portion of that to the NJC program, which I did for two years, and then I went more into the legislative ledge houses this year, and I ran for youth governor, which was an incredible experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I really can’t express [the experience] in so few words, but now I am here running for vice president. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve been [at MLC] all three years, except I didn’t go to [Camp] Bob my freshman year because of a broken ankle from soccer, , but I absolutely loved it this year. I’d say it was my favorite year because campaigning, I just had so much, I was always busy, I was buzzing around, but it was like a good sense of fulfillment, each night I was so tired, but I felt rewarded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was talking to people all day, and the program area this year for the youth governor candidates, they created this campaign strategy team, and we were able to work with a group of collaborators who were helping us succeed, and it was so incredible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People were so dedicated and proactive, and the entire time I just felt so supported by adults and my peers alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve grown more confident in a few different ways. I’ve grown confident speaking, I’ve now spoken in front of 2,000 people, which is something I dreamed of, but it’s crazy to say that I wasn’t that scared doing it. I really have worked my way up, it’s just so much practice, and I really felt supported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had friendly faces in the crowd. I’ve just grown more accepting, and I’ve always loved to hear new perspectives. I love to talk, but I also love to listen, and going to Youth & Government, especially to NJC, where you’re meeting delegates from across the country, not just across the state, there’s so many different perspectives, because it’s not just someone who grew up in the same vicinity as you with slightly different beliefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have an entirely different upbringing, and seeing all these different views really shapes the way you see the world. It’s why I love reading too, it just gives a different outlook on life and history. It’s super interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did [Camp] Whittle last year, super fun. I had a bunch of friends in my cabin, and it was just a lot of enjoying nature and enjoying a little quiet getaway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m also on the Youth Advisory Council. I don’t serve as a position, but I work with my local YMCA [peers] to help plan events. We planned a trivia night! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did the National Judicial Competition, and then I served the next year, and this year I was accepted on into the Conference on National Affairs – we’re going to travel to North Carolina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’re going to get to create proposals, and I’ve also participated as a Model United Nations Secretariat for one year, and I’m going to this year again, and I really like that. It was helping the middle schoolers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I helped them create non-government organizations at their conference, and it just brings out the best in you, because you’re around other people who are really helpful, and they just are good people, it really is inspirational to see people who are just helping for the sake of helping, and I really like it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel like it’s very unifying [The YMCA]. You can go down to the very basics – everyone’s heard the song, at least. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s something that’s just simple, and, like, in that same way, it’s just something everyone feels that they can be a part of, and I really like that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n