Finding My Voice

When I first joined YMCA Youth and Government® in Pennsylvania, politics was the last thing I expected to care about. In seventh grade, I could not have told you who my senators were, and honestly, I probably would not have cared enough to look it up. Government felt distant to me: something meant for adults or students who had dreamed about politics their entire lives.

I joined Youth and Government for one simple reason: my older brother loved it, and he convinced me to give it a chance. Even then, I walked into the program hesitant and completely unsure if I belonged in a space centered around debate, legislation, and leadership. I never could have imagined that four years later, this same program would completely transform the way I see myself and my ability to make a difference.

After four years, I can confidently say that joining Youth and Government changed my life.

This year, I have the incredible honor of serving as Pennsylvania’s 81st Youth Governor. Before that, I served as Speaker of the House for Pennsylvania YMCA Youth and Government and was a 2026 National YMCA Youth Advocate, where I had the opportunity to advocate directly to my own senators on behalf of the YMCA. Sometimes I still laugh thinking about how full circle that moment was. The same girl who entered the program, not even knowing who represented her, was now sitting in meetings advocating for the very organization that taught her how government and true leadership works. Most importantly, I learned how to use my voice.

That transformation did not happen overnight—it happened because Youth and Government gave me room to grow.

A defining moment for me was standing in front of over 750 Pennsylvania delegates, an all-time high for our state, giving my speech. Looking out at that crowd was overwhelming in the best possible way. I remember thinking about how younger versions of all of us had probably walked into this program unsure of ourselves. And there I was, trusted with leading and speaking to one of the largest groups our program had ever seen. What made that moment so emotional for me was not the title or the stage. It was the people.

Youth and Government is so much more than a “model government,” it is a community filled with students who genuinely want to grow and help each other succeed. Some of my closest friendships and most meaningful memories have come from this program. It gave me confidence when I lacked it, and mentors who constantly pushed me to become better.

Through Youth and Government, I learned that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room: it is about listening. In today’s world, it has become so easy to shut out people with opposing views rather than trying to understand them. The YMCA has taught me, along with thousands of other students, how to genuinely engage in respectful dialogue and learn from people who think differently than we do. Those conversations are not always the easiest ones to have, but they are often the most important. Youth and Government showed me that real leadership begins when we choose understanding over division.

And through those conversations, I began to realize something even bigger: young people are capable of making real change. That lesson matters now more than ever. Programs like Youth and Government give students a chance to realize their age does not limit their impact. In a world where young people are often underestimated, Youth and Government empowers students to step forward with confidence and purpose. It teaches civic engagement in a way that feels personal and meaningful because students are not just learning about leadership—they are actively practicing it.

As I prepare to attend the National Youth Governors Conference this summer, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude for every advisor who encouraged me, every delegate who inspired me, every late-night conversation, every debate, every speech, and every opportunity this program has given me. Youth and Government helped shape who I am today, and I truly cannot imagine my high school experience without it.

To any student considering joining Youth and Government, especially someone who feels like they are “not political enough,” I would say this: neither was I. You do not need to have everything figured out to belong here. You just need to be willing to try. This program has a way of changing people – not by forcing them to become someone else, but by helping them discover confidence and potential they did not know they had.

Four years ago, I joined because of my brother. I stayed because Youth and Government became home.