The humid Indiana air hung heavy as I stepped out of my mom’s car. A mixture of nervous energy and anticipation in my stomach hit me. This was Hoosier Boys State.
I’d heard about such a program from a close relative who had been in the program years ago – a week where high school juniors going into their senior year built their own government from the ground up. Kids from every corner of the state, thrown together to elect officials, write legislation and argue cases in mock court. It sounded like there was gonna be chaos, and I was prepared to take on that challenge for the week.
Our school hasn’t sent many delegates in recent years. At the beginning of my time at Hoosier Boy State, I almost felt like Center Grove was letting down capable students that would thoroughly enjoy such a program. I heard the others stories on how they got recruited, and most of them said the same thing.
“We got pulled down during our lunch time and got a lecture from the veterans or past members or the main leaders on what Hoosier Boy State is and what it can value towards your life,” senior Kaden Gentrup from Brownsburg said.
As I looked around at the sea of faces, I saw the diversity that was brought to the program: kids from small rural towns, vibrant city centers and everywhere in between. There were athletes, musicians, debaters, valedictorians and gamers. This is where the true melting pot of Indiana’s future leaders were.
The week as a whole was a week to shape a lifetime. From voting and deciding who or what our government wanted to focus on for real world problems such as male teens’ mental health, to finding ways to create a statement to our state governors and hopefully get a new law passed for student mental health programs. With that, they allowed times to chill and have fun with the friends we have made around the program. I, for one, would host euchre and poker games in the dorm with kids from other schools who were interested.
By the time the week ended, I was exhausted but refreshed. I had a clearer knowledge of what goes into our government programs and of positions that make a difference in our world. I’d made friends from across the state, learned more about government than I ever thought possible and discovered a newfound appreciation for the complexities of leadership. I knew I wanted to bring this energy back to Center Grove, to encourage more students to participate in the future. Hoosier Boys State wasn’t just a summer program; it was a transformative experience, and I want every student at my school to have the opportunity to be a part of it.
To apply for this opportunity go to www.hoosierboysstate.org and find the apply tab and take your chances to have your week to shape a lifetime.
