As delegates gather for the Texas Youth and Government State Conference, Daniel Ren, a candidate from Glenda Dawson High School in District 3, is campaigning for Youth Governor with a platform centered on equity, structural refinement and restoring trust in the system.

Ren said his candidacy is rooted in representation.

“I’m running because I come from District 3,” Ren said. “It’s smaller. We don’t have thousands of members behind us. We don’t always have the loudest presence in the room. And for a long time, leadership has consistently come from the largest districts.” While he acknowledged the work of larger delegations, Ren said representation across districts matters.

“I want students from smaller districts to look at the ballot and think, that could be me,” he said.

Rather than proposing sweeping change, Ren emphasized strengthening the program’s foundation. “Youth and Government has existed for nearly 80 years,” Ren said. “It does not need reinvention. It demands refinement.”

The central issue of his campaign is trust in the judging system. “When judging feels inconsistent, when rubrics aren’t clear, when outcomes feel emotional instead of
objective, students notice,” Ren said. “If we ask students to prepare for months, we owe them fairness.”

Ren proposes standardized judge training, greater rubric transparency and a more accessible appeal system. He also supports maintaining financial aid while exploring merit-based scholarships that recognize leadership, growth and commitment within clubs. Beyond structural reform, Ren hopes to strengthen YG’s culture through monthly “table topic” sessions designed to help students think critically and speak confidently under pressure.

“I lead quietly,” Ren said. “I rely on structure, follow-through and listening carefully before acting.” If elected, Ren said he would begin by gathering detailed feedback from members before implementing initiatives. “Winning would mean responsibility,” Ren said. “Youth in Government belongs to its members. If I am given the opportunity to serve, my role is simple: to listen carefully, act intentionally and leave the organization stronger than I found it.”

Blog By: Gavin Strong, Glenda Dawson HS

How Naila Amol Navigates Justice from Opposite Ends of the Courtroom

In District Court, judicial delegates usually commit to one role. Naila Amol has chosen two.This conference, she is playing both a prosecution lawyer and a defendant in Mock Trial. “I’m a prosecution lawyer,” Naila explained, “which is like the people accusing the other person. And then on the defense side, I’m the one being accused. I’m the defendant.” Being able to balance these opposite perspectives requires lots of preparation, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the case.

Playing both sides, she says, is “definitely complicated.” Earlier in the season at district, she portrayed Harper Lynn, the defendant. To prepare for her role, she read the affidavit repeatedly, carefully studying her character’s statement and practicing responses to possible cross-examination questions. Now, as a prosecution attorney, that preparation gives her an advantage. Because she also embodies the defendant, she knows the character, Harper Lynn, very and has a good understanding of the testimony.

“I know the characters so well,” she said. “It feels easier because I feel prepared.” That familiarity allows her to ask impromptu questions confidently, anticipating how the other side might respond. Her experience highlights one of the most valuable skills Mock Trial develops: the ability to think from multiple perspectives.

Beyond the courtroom intensity, Naila has also embraced the community aspect of the program. From long bus rides with teammates to meeting new delegates at state, she describes the experience as fun and is excited to continue connecting with others.

By stepping into two drastically different roles, Naila demonstrates that understanding justice requires seeing both sides of the story.

Story By Lola Sagoe, Greenhill School

Inside Greenhill’s TX YG Delegation and the advisor guiding Its growth.

At Greenhill, students involved in Youth and Government don’t just learn about our government, but they actively practice it. Now in her second year as the delegation advisor, Mrs. Hensen stepped into the role after being encouraged by one of her own students. “This is my second year as the advisor,” she explained. After arriving at Greenhill mid-year and beginning to teach AP Government, one of her students approached her about sponsoring the club. The program had already been established at Greenhill, but they were looking for a new advisor.

Mrs.Hensen’s decision to lead Youth and Government reflects her broader philosophy about civic participation. She believes that living in a democracy comes with responsibility. “If you live in a democracy, you should participate in it,” she shared. “That’s one of the reasons why people choose democratic countries.”  For her, Youth and Government is more than a competition. It is a training ground for active citizenship. Students gain “an understanding of civics” and begin to see “how exciting, but challenging the democratic process can be.” Through drafting bills, debating legislation, campaigning for office, and writing articles, delegates experience the realities of governance firsthand.

She describes the program as a way for students to strengthen what she calls their “democratic muscles.” Youth and Government provides opportunities for students to practice leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement before entering adulthood. Delegates even experience simulated elections long before they are eligible to votethemselves.

By guiding students through this process, Greenhill’s delegation continues to grow as a space where young people do not simply learn about democracy but actively engage in it. Under Mrs.Hensen’s leadership, the program encourages students to understand their role in shaping the systems they are part of and prepares them to participate thoughtfully in the world beyond the classroom.

Story By: Lola Sagoe, Greenhill School

By Naden Ramirez
B. Ray High School

We should prohibit the wearing of socks with sandals. This is HB005, written by Alexandra Harper, and an example of one of several “joke bills” that took place at Committee 6 at the district meet for Districts 2 & 7. A large variety of bills were proposed, some relating to issues involving schools, while others were about lighthearted issues where they took a strong stance on issues like whether or not we should allow for Texas schools to teach that the Earth is flat. One bill that showed a genuine compassion for the issue it was discussing was HB088, which argued for an act to regulate paid plasma donation practices. The bill author, Sofia Torres, spoke on the issue with such passion during a casual 10-minute recess, and her passion was highlighted even more when she officially proposed her bill. 

The main components of her bill included provisions such as “The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) shall regulate plasma donation practices statewide. Individuals may donate plasma no more than once every fourteen days, with payments capped at sixty dollars per donation.” This bill is meant to address the real-world issue of the connection between blood plasma donation and poverty in the United States. Americans with low incomes use these donations as a way to “add a few hundred dollars a month to household income, an important source of economic support for low-income families” as stated in “The Interlinkage Between Blood Plasma Donation and Poverty in the United States” by Western Michigan University. Although this can add on several hundred bucks a month to a person’s income, the detrimental effects of this on a person’s body are too severe. This is why Torres capped plasma donation to “no more than once every fourteen days” to ensure those who are donating plasma, mainly those in the lower class, have time to recover as much as possible. The negative effects of donating too much plasma are extensive, as it can lead to things such as dehydration, fatigue, vein damage, iron deficiency, infection, and many more. 

Placing regulations on an issue as serious as this in a sort of mock legislation reflects the real-world actions we should be taking towards regulating health-related issues such as this. Torres’s bill not only shows an incredible amount of passion towards a real-world issue, but it also reflects the positive effects of organizations such as Youth and Government. These sorts of organizations allow students to participate in real issues even if it is in a “fake” setting, allowing them to share their voice and inform people on real-world issues. As stated on the Youth and Government website, “Democracy must be learned by each generation.”

By: David Lee
W.B. Ray High School

“A lot of guys and even evaluators won’t take you seriously as a woman, I’ve had sexist comments said to me, but to be honest, I just laughed at them”, Spandana Palyam expressed. 

Spandana Palyam is the 79th Lieutenant Governor of district two and seven, and has shared her experience as a leader in youth and government, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Spandana Palyam is a devoted leader of district two and seven, with the experience and determination to back it up. Spandana started her youth and government career as a freshman, winning Distinguished Delegate in media, and advancing to state. Palyam also became the youngest ever media co-editor of the state, attended the conference on national affairs, and the Youth Advocates Program in D.C. on National Advocacy day. However, her journey didn’t start with perfection. Spandana found that she struggled with insecurity and imposter syndrome. She struggled with the experience of being seen differently because of her identity, and found that she wasn’t taken as seriously because she was a woman. However, Megan Dern and Missy Garcia, female leaders of Austin pushed her to stay committed to her journey of civic duty. When asked how she responded when discriminated against, Palyam gave me a steadfast answer, “To be honest, I just laughed at them. My brain just translated that experience into, “It’s not about me, they’ve got their own things, and if they truly believe that, then that’s just because they haven’t seen anything differently”. As a queer person of color myself, I found that this answer was deeply inspiring. There are moments when I struggle with a marginalized identity, but it was heartwarming to see such a successful leader like Palyam devoted to civic duty. 

Palyam also expressed more advice for leaders that struggle with being treated differently. “focus on what matters to you, don’t ever try to abandon what you value, just to cater to other people just to make them like you more.” Palyam also found that these experiences were essential to her growth, allowing for her to mature into the leader that she is today. Palyam found that Youth and Government pushed her to be more confident, to assert herself no matter what challenged her. “No matter where you go, there will always be haters”, Palyam expressed. 

Spandana Palyam is a visionary leader and inspiring heroine for anyone that struggles with their journey in leadership, showing that anything is possible. Through the challenges she faced in YAG and YMCA, Palyam was able to build her confidence, self security, and above all else; her commitment to civic leadership.

79th Lieutenant Governor
Spandana Palyam