Personal Narrative : My Big Girl Pants

My junior year of high school I had decided that I would get more involved in school activities. I had been a member of both HOSA, a medical club that focuses on competitions and INTERACT, a club that embraces different cultures and people as well as focusing on helping out the community. I became deeply invested and passionate in both of these clubs. I decided I no longer wanted to be just a member. I wanted to have a say in the decision process and events for the following year so I ran for officer elections in both.

I honestly am happy I did not win state office because I would not have had the privilege to meet some of the most talented individuals. There is an old saying that says, college is where we meet your life-long friends. In just the past year, I can attest to that. Failing is not always a bad thing, we can always learn from it, and sometimes we realize that we were supposed to be on a different path entirely. It is important to believe in the process and know that everything happens for a reason. When one door closes a window of opportunity can

I was asked by the faculty at my school if I could be nominated to give a speech.  Then I was told I was selected to do so,

It all began in January 2013, when I was elected as my region’s state officer candidate. In order to be elected as a state officer candidate, I had to prepare a two-minute speech as well as study for a FCCLA knowledge test. Once regional elections day had arrived, my first priority was to take the knowledge test. This test consisted of various questions about FCCLA to prepare me for my upcoming term, if elected. I took the test at ease and passed with a rousing one hundred percent! It was now time for the, “Meet the Candidates,” portion of the day, where I introduced myself to many voting delegates as they asked me various situational based questions about FCCLA. Once this portion was over, I was now on my way to the most stressful part of the day- giving my speech. As I walked on the stage and began my speech, my

The Kelly Ayotte campaign was a well-run organization and played a large role in getting the New Hampshire citizens to the voting booth. I was honored to serve with such great people from who came to New Hampshire from all over the country. These people like myself, wanted to hopefully help Kelly Ayotte get re-elected to the senate. The campaign headquarters was based out of a first floor office, located in the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester. I was a man of many tasks, and tried to help where I was needed depending on the day. I volunteered in the office and was out in the field, knocking door to door. My job was incredibly important because going into the start of my service I knew the senate race was going to be extremely close, the closest Senate race in the country for that matter. As we observed, the race was extremely close and unfortunately my candidate lost three weeks ago. Although, it was not the outcome we were looking for, I have a couple of theories of why we may have lost by only eight hundred votes. If more un-educated voters exercised their right to vote, the outcome could have possibly been different. Whether we like it or not, most of the citizens in Manchester New Hampshire are not as well versed on public issues and candidates. However, towns including Bedford and Merrimack were very well versed. Towns including Bedford take election cycles more seriously and in my eyes seemed more educated on the issues. The experience volunteering on the Kelly

When you ran for Key Club Secretary, you ran unopposed. When the 2016-2017 term started, I do not think Felicia trained you as well as I hope she would have trained you. She may not have explained the full duties of the secretary, so it may have seemed like a laidback, easy job. This year, I am trying to raise the bar for all officers, including myself, so that

I unfortunately lost in the primary elections. I personally did not know how I lost because I had the best slogan ever and that was, “Cope gives you Hope.” Because I chose that position, I got to review cases and represent people and I was able to sit in on a case that was presented to the Boys State Justices at the Capital building in the Nebraska State Court.

This event was the Student Government elections held last year, my sophomore year. I had big plans. I wanted to be the Junior Class president. Being Junior Class president is a big responsibility due to prom, concessions and other fund raisers, but I wanted the position anyway. I knew I could handle it. My mom gave me a great idea for a theme that I would carry throughout my posters, my speech and my clothing attire on Election Day. I researched pictures I could put on posters. I bought stickers to hand out to people on election day that went along

Early in December, the filing period for the 2014 election cycle ended. Looking over the ballot, I am gratified by the number of my fellow citizens that desire to serve. When I look at my place on the ballot, I am unopposed in the primary in March and the general election in

We were all sitting around Mr. DeHaan’s classroom; it was like any normal FFA meeting. Except this wasn’t like every other meeting. For one thing, I was about twenty times more nervous than I usually am. Because this meeting was the officer election meeting – and I was running for FFA President. Did I mention I was only a sophomore and was running against all the juniors? We had already cast the ballots once for president, and the seniors had gone into Mr. DeHaan’s office to count them. I remember one of the senior guys walking out and up to the white board. He erased three of the five names. My name was still there. I had tied with Travis TeGrotenhuis, so we had to revote. By this time, I was sweating bullets and my face was

Unfortunately, I lost the running for Mayor by two or so votes. This aggravated me for a while because I knew that I was just as qualified if not better than my opponent. I did not let this get to me though, since I instead received a position on the city council. Also, it did not bother me that the person who won Mayor was my friend. In the turn around, I preferred being on the city council because it was more of a consultative position and less of a pressure position. One of my favorite parts of being on the city council was being involved with the future laws created within our town. I also enjoyed working closely with the Mayor on creative projects. One aspect which made Boys State such a fun program is the camaraderie between each other. Everything we did was a group effort rather than a commitment primarily of my own

Today we began the day with a field manager discussion on conversation rates and door completion. We trained on pacing during GOTV and effective re-knocking to increase our number of conversations. As the rest of the team joined in for training on the overall mindset canvassing before and even potentially during the debate along with voter fatigue at doors. We also briefed drivers on avoiding the highways due to the amount of traffic and closed exits. We then transitioned into a discussion on messaging and how to incorporate different words to attract voters into the group as ‘we’ and ‘us’. We broke into crews for rap practice and headed to lunch, then turf. During mid check-ins, no issues were recorded, but the team was finding a lot of not homes. Canvassers arrived and started to debrief

This past February I had the chance to travel to Greenville, South Carolina to campaign for the Republican Primary. I have loved politics since I was six years old and I was ready for my first real opportunity. I had already accepted the position of Fulton County Chair and thought campaigning in another state would be the perfect way to prepare myself. I am a fairly reserved person but I was aware of the fact that if I ever wanted to turn my passion for politics into a career I would have to push myself harder. I was invited to accompany some family friends to campaign for the South Carolina primary. I knew I had to say yes. It was a

Taking on an intense responsibility is a lot of pressure. I know this because this summer I had to babysit my little cousins one a 5 year old and a 9 month old. I had to feed, burp, bathe, and I had to change the baby's diapers, which I never did before.When I changed him the first time I thought it was so easy, until he pooped his pants and I had to change him. I was freaking out because once my sister changed him a he pooped on her. Everyone started laughing at her because she got poop on her pants, shirt, and all over her bed. When I was babysitting my mom had to run a Aron and it was my sister and I babysitting. My sister nor I like changing diapers so we took turns, but of course I had to go first.When I went to change his diaper he just had to have pieces pooh shaped like coal in his diaper! It stunk so bad! On the other hand his big brother was terrible that day. My sister and him were in the living room she wasn't even watching him she was just on her phone. When I was done all I saw was toys, trash, and so many other things on the floor. I was mad at my sister because she was the oldest and wasn't acting mature at all. They both said I was begin a total “buzzkill,” even though one of them didn't even knew what it meant. Later on that day my mom was back and when we heard the horn blow outside we knew we had to pick up fast. Once my mom got in the house she said y'all must have been good babysitters, the house is still clean. We all turned our heads and started to laugh. That night I had to bathe him he took the soap and threw it at me dead in the face then he started to laugh at me. When it was time to start getting bathed he started

The groups ' last meeting, Sunday night before the presentation is characterized by a high level of motivation, since there is only one more night left until the deadline. It was only then when we start filming the interview and make the final adjustments.