As we said in the beginning of the week, we talked to our officers and asked them about what the U.S. Constitution means to them. We received some thoughtful and incredible responses and we will continue to share them with you throughout our Constitution Day Fundraiser. Read about our Chief Justice Sebastiane Caballes ’20 and our State Affairs Form Chair Nikash Harapanahalli ’20. And be sure to check out our donate page here to see how you contribute to our program!

Chief Justice Sebastiane Caballes ’20

How long have you been participating in YG? 5 years.

What are you most excited about for the 2019-2020 year? I am excited to make new memories.

What is your favorite YG memory? My favorite memory in YG is when I was campaigning for Chief Justice. I had so much support from the friends I have in the program and was able to meet so many new delegates throughout the process. It is something that I will always look back on fondly.

How has YG impacted you? YG has pushed me to understand and apply different methods of leadership. The program has so many different facets from being an attorney, a legislator, to leading a club. What sticks to me the most from YG is the people that I have met. Their unique stories and views open my eyes to new perspectives.

What does the U.S. Constitution mean to you? To me, the U.S. Constitution represents the essence of American values. We are unlike any other nation in that we are not a country founded by a single ethnic or cultural group. The U.S. Constitution does not discriminate based on the color of your skin or the religion you practice, it protects all Americans equally under the law. It is this idea of equality under the law that resonates with me the most. Our nation was built upon the idea that discourse would not divide America, it would unite us. Just because not all Americans share the same political views or beliefs does not mean that one group is right and the other is wrong. Rather, it is this diversity in ideas and people that strengthen and makes America great. The U.S. Constitution stands as a stalwart against authoritarian regimes across the world and represents the freedom and liberty that we hold dear in the United States.

State Affairs Form Chair Nikash Harapanahalli ’20

How long have you been participating in YG? 6 years.

What are you most excited about for the 2019-2020 year? I am excited to be able to make change at the state level!

What is your favorite YG memory? My favorite memory in YG is when I face-planted as I ran to get my proponent slip in for a bill in Joint Session at the State Conference.

How has YG impacted you? YG is without a doubt a foundation of my modern sense of what civic and national duty are. YG’s emphasis on collaboration, servant leadership, and democratic participation have redefined what being a patriot is to me. Furthermore, the communication skills that I picked up have reinforced notions that through open dialogue, our mutual understanding of global citizenship can be rejuvenated and extended.

What does the U.S. Constitution mean to you? The U.S. Constitution is by no means perfect, but it has provided all people yearning for equity, freedom, and democracy a functional template from which to forge a new form of state. The U.S. Constitution reimagined statecraft and has set the foundation for the current notions of liberal democracy. It has laid precedent that synthesizes humanity with governance by affording equity to everyone born on American soil. That combination is at the heart of the U.S. Constitution – applying our empathy to all human beings through a compassionate state. This does not mean that the U.S. Constitution calls for the imparting of morals, beliefs, or religious ideals onto a population but rather that Americans are called to see the world through a compassionate lens. The U.S. Constitution’s emphasis on inalienable fraternity between all is something I will always carry with me because it inspires a social consciousness that only seeks to improve the world around it.