BHS Youth & Government Club

As an individual deeply captivated by politics and government, I am increasingly frustrated by a concerning trend: The lack of student political engagement. This does not merely translate to the daily news, but it also encompasses legislation, votes, daily briefings, committee meetings, and more. The most troubling aspect is that if this ignorance persists, future generations of Americans will become even more disconnected from the leadership of their state and country. Over time, this disconnection will lead to further frustration with the government, stifling change and reform, which is the perfect fertile ground for government corruption. As of now, many students are unaware of critical changes, such as potential cuts to the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA), several proposed cell phone restriction policies on the table, increases to the statutory debt limit, and even the recent passing of Representative Connolly, a long time Democrat in the U.S House. 

One day, as I was scrolling on Google in regard to civic opportunities for high school students, I stumbled upon a local campaign website with a wealth of information. Thank you, Representative James Thibault, for your website which gives insight into various programs offered to students to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Among these was the YMCA Youth & Government Program, which vaguely mirrored the intent of Model UN at Bedford High School. According to the Granite YMCA, this program “empowers high school students from every corner of the U.S. by giving them the opportunity to learn about and experience government policies firsthand with a goal of understanding how to be change makers and improve their communities.” These keywords sparked a lightbulb in my head, that it was time to establish our own club at Bedford High School. After conducting thorough but tedious research, I found that other high schools such as Goffstown High School and Timberlane High School have similar clubs and take part in the YMCA program. Motivated by my vision, I embarked on a journey to create the BHS Youth & Government Club, which would be dedicated to educating future generations of Americans about the importance of civic engagement, government involvement and democracy.

At the end of the day, our elected government makes decisions for their constituents, us, but along the process we have to make sure that our elected officials work for us, not for special interests or lobbyists. Transparency concern was among the key reasons for me founding the BHS Youth & Government Club along with several other students. In order to make our peers more informed, members will be taught parliamentary procedure, basic government knowledge, for both the State and National government, take part in political debates (every now and then for those who enjoy such a spectacle), and spend a significant sum of time writing mock legislation to debate in favor of in Concord at the Assembly. This is a special opportunity for many who wish to see changes in our lives, as these mock bills are later received by many of our State Representatives and Senators, who analyze what reform the younger generation of New Hampshire wishes to see. Since founding the club a month ago, we have established an official board with appointed officers, and many students have joined. We plan to expand our membership in the years to come through public outreach, managed by our board and select members. Our common goal is to have as many Bulldogs as possible participate in our club and attend the Legislative Assembly in Concord, prime time to debate pivotal pieces of legislation crafted with hard work and a vision. If you are passionate about politics, debate, or simply want to learn about democracy, feel free to join us. Come to room 236 on Friday mornings at 7:20 A.M. Remember to spread the word, as we seek to have as many citizens informed about the importance of having a voice.