By Dorcas Owala

John Marshall Law and Medical Services High School

Starting off with the 2026 YG State Conference, the YMCA youth leaders got the delegates riled up and ready for competition. Raniah Butler, a Legislative delegate says, “I’m excited to go to the capital and see other delegates and peers debate their bills. It’s so interesting to hear unique bills being argued while the competitiveness of each delegate rises. They challenged me to become vocal and confident in my bill.”

As delegates arrive at orientation, excitement begins to fill up the room not just for the competition, but for VOTING!. Every Year, Junior YG students apply for the youth governor candidacy position. These candidates voice their campaign agenda at the orientation, suggesting the need to make YG experience better for delegates and be their voice. This year Anvika Jain, Daniel Ren, Simer Signh, and Mark Anthony Causell ran for the Youth Governor with different campaign approaches.

Listening to the ideas with confident voices, most delegates said they appreciated Daniels leadership and scholarship opportunities for delegates. His evaluation ideas sparked interest. One legislative delegate says, “Daniel was a confident speaker with clear goals. His plan advocated for the delegates with not only merit scholarships and advocacy platforms, but also through the competition format itself with a call for more equitable grading practices.”

As delegates step away from the podium and toward the “ballot box”, the focus shifts from campaigning to decision making. The choices made by delegates will shape the tone, direction, and energy of the year ahead. In Youth and Government, democracy isn’t just studied- its practiced. Isn’t the youth the future of our government?