Personal Narrative: Nebraska Cornhusker Boys State

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.

Looking back out of the small window, I catch a final glimpse of corn fields and lonely railroad crossings before they dip below the horizon. For my first time on a plane, the excitement of adventure meets me as I depart from the comfort of home and enter a world unknown outside of Nebraska. Seeing the world in God’s view as the landscape evolves below, I fall in love with flying. Looking down from 30,000 feet and seeing earth on such a vast scale, I realize how much there is to discover.

It was a Thursday evening when it all happened. Lady Titan Softball was at Tecumseh high school playing a conference game. Of course, this was my freshman year so varsity wasn’t exactly in my range. Winning the junior varsity game though, was just as important. We all knew this conference game was going to be a tough one, but we were willing to do anything to win.

To begin as far as political experience goes, I have done my best to partake in nearly every aspect of the political process. This journey began with involvement in State politics as I interned for Greg Abbott campaign during his 2014 bid for the Texas Governorship. In this role, I learned the art of canvassing, and phone banking as I always exceeded the minimum contact quota for the week.

Every high school athlete dreams of winning a state championship. My softball coach always explained winning a state championship as a life-changing experience. As the only senior on the team my goal was to leave behind a legacy for the younger players to remember, and after this season I believe that I completed goal. I have been a member of this team for seven years. Before this season, my school team had never before won any games in the state tournament. On September 25, 2017, the Simpson Academy fastpitch softball team made history at our school by becoming the MAIS Division II AAAA State Champions.

Last summer, I attended a summer leadership and citizenship program in Sacramento, California. Fitting with the Boys State Camp's emphasis on civic service, each delegate was given the opportunity to run for a political position. It's selection process was highly competitive and to be elected to one of the highest positions puts you among the top leaders in the state. While this meant that I would have to push myself out of my comfort zone, I was not going to waste my chance to shine at Boys State, so I set up to be appointed as Fire Chief. The following morning, my heart pounded as I walked into the hall where speeches were to be made. When the moderators finally called my name, I closed my eyes and blocked the whispers in my head, whispers

“There’s so much on the line right now, and we’re well aware of it. But the second we step onto the ice, we can’t be thinking about that. All we can be thinking about is exactly what we need to do to make the current shot and then the next shot. You can’t afford to get into a hole of self-pity or anything like that… Just keep our heads right, and if we can just eliminate a few more errors as we go into the playoffs, we’ll be in a good spot.” ~Joann Courtney

Well my journey starts out just like most high schoolers. I graduated for high school in May of 2012. I got ready to start my next chapter in my life at Iowa Central Community College. I had no clue what I was going to major in. I knew only one thing that I wanted to play football in college, and get my education payed for free. Also I wanted to make it to the highest level in football to play at the FBS level. Some things I had to do to reach that goal where be a good football player as well as a great student. I shortly figured out that I was going to just do essential studies and graduate.

As I'm trowen I love flying through the air, and spinning really fast. I make all of america jump up and down cheering. My shape is more like an oval. It feels amazing when I'm caught. It hurts so much when I hit the ground. It also hurts when I get tackled. I love playing in big games the crowd is loud. The players are excited to play and so am I. I remember my first game I didn't think it was going to be a big game. I was wrong, It was #3 MIchigan at Iowa. Iowa came of a blowout loss so nobody thought they were going to win. So the game started I remember getting kickoff it sucks the kickoff is the worst play for me. So about midway through the first quarter Michigan got a field goal. So the score was MIchigan 3 Iowa 0. Then about halfway through the second quarter MIchigan got a touchdown. So the score was MIchigan 10 Iowa 0.

I fully understand the reason for my suspension from North Central Texas College. At the time of classes, my grades were too low and did not show my strength as a student. I would like you/ the school to reconsider my enrollment for classes.

Known as "The Cornhusker State," Nebraska became the 37th state on March 1, 1867. The state's name is derived from an Oto Indian word Nebrathka, meaning "flat water" and relates to a national symbol of the state, the Platte River. Alongside becoming the 37th state, Nebraska also ranks #37 in population for the nation. The 2013 population census claimed 1,868,516 residing citizens, with Caucasian making up 87% of the total population. Although the population isn't the lowest in the country, the state still has more cattle than it does people. In fact, Nebraska ranks #1 in states with most farmland, which is 93%. The original capital of the state was Omaha until it was moved to the village of Lancaster in 1867, which was shortly renamed

For my campus involvement project, I attended four UNK events which included a Mike Super magic show, a glowrage, dragshow, and a football game. All events were really enjoyable and while most of the events I went to weren’t particularly “educational”, I feel like I learned some important information and gained social experiences.

Homecoming week at CHS is usually a week to remember, but I must say my favorite event is the womanless pageant. The womanless pageant is a day where the roles for each sex is exchanged just for a day. The girls gets to dress like a boy while the boys wear prom dresses. The boys strut their stuff while the girls be sweet gentlemens. The reason this event is the best because the competitiveness the boy have even while wearing a dress is incredibly funny . Some even go beyond wearing dresses such as wearing makeup, wigs , heels and etc.  The boys are very competitive believe it or not . They come up with unbelieve names, they dance as if they were girls, and so much much. You will think the boys are ready to get in formation. This day at CHS

There are a few things that were enjoyable about the state capitol fieldtrip. On thing I liked was walking in Old Town. It was the right weather and it felt like you were actually in that time because of the buildings. I also fancied the many candy stores. There was a large variety of candy and all the ones I got tasted really good. Those are a few things that were pleasurable about the fieldtrip.

An event I have gone to on campus was entitled “CAB Drag Race featuring Shangela”. This was an amazing show with wonderful words spoken by a former cast member of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as performances by fellow students. This was put on by the CAB organization and was sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center and the Triota Honor Society. A drag show might just seem like a fun night out but there was a lot the guest speaker, Shangela, spoke about that was really powerful.