By Jane Y. Kim
Over the three day Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, 3,500 delegates in Youth and Government did not have the opportunity to sleep in and enjoy a long weekend. Instead, they traveled to Fresno to learn about how our government functions. This conference was the second of three, where the delegates were put into their specific program areas of the government such as the Senate/Assembly, National Issues Commission, and Bench Trial.
In addition to participating in their respective program areas, delegates also ran for statewide positions. Seniors Michael May, Raina Chen, and Hannah Johnson ran for positions, which made the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA very proud. Michael ran for Attorney General and lost by a very small margin, Raina ran for the National Issues Commission Clerk and unfortunately lost to another candidate whose speech was slam poetry, and Hannah won her election as the International Affairs Commission Chief Rapporteur.
“It was very fun. I love the court program, and I am really dedicated to it. Obviously, it was disappointing that I didn’t win, but I personally know the person who beat me and she’s a lovely person. I look forward to working with her on the Supreme Court,” Michael said.
With the end of the second conference, there is only one month of the program left: four meetings and of course, the annual trip to Sacramento. At Sacramento, delegates will apply everything they learned about their respective program areas in Fresno at Sacramento in the Capitol building.
Although Youth and Government does not start again until the new school year, if you are interested in joining, be sure to get a spot early because space is limited.
“I would recommend it to everybody, even if you’re not a political junkie like me, because I think that it’s something that is very important for everyone to participate in to get a greater grasp of how our government works and how we can forge compromises and friendships with people who we may not agree with. Ultimately, I think it’s a very great program that helps people find passion for policies and positions they love,” said Michael.
Over the three day Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, 3,500 delegates in Youth and Government did not have the opportunity to sleep in and enjoy a long weekend. Instead, they traveled to Fresno to learn about how our government functions. This conference was the second of three, where the delegates were put into their specific program areas of the government such as the Senate/Assembly, National Issues Commission, and Bench Trial.
In addition to participating in their respective program areas, delegates also ran for statewide positions. Seniors Michael May, Raina Chen, and Hannah Johnson ran for positions, which made the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA very proud. Michael ran for Attorney General and lost by a very small margin, Raina ran for the National Issues Commission Clerk and unfortunately lost to another candidate whose speech was slam poetry, and Hannah won her election as the International Affairs Commission Chief Rapporteur.
“It was very fun. I love the court program, and I am really dedicated to it. Obviously, it was disappointing that I didn’t win, but I personally know the person who beat me and she’s a lovely person. I look forward to working with her on the Supreme Court,” Michael said.
With the end of the second conference, there is only one month of the program left: four meetings and of course, the annual trip to Sacramento. At Sacramento, delegates will apply everything they learned about their respective program areas in Fresno at Sacramento in the Capitol building.
Although Youth and Government does not start again until the new school year, if you are interested in joining, be sure to get a spot early because space is limited.
“I would recommend it to everybody, even if you’re not a political junkie like me, because I think that it’s something that is very important for everyone to participate in to get a greater grasp of how our government works and how we can forge compromises and friendships with people who we may not agree with. Ultimately, I think it’s a very great program that helps people find passion for policies and positions they love,” said Michael.
