Staff Writer
The Apex High School Youth and
Government Club attended its first North Carolina Youth Legislature Conference
from February 9-12. From Thursday evening until Sunday afternoon, the eight
students and two advisers participated in a mock government setting, writing
bills, arguing cases, and reporting on the events of the YMCA-sponsored
conference.
Eight Apex students attended the
four day conference and excelled in their individual fields. Students had the
option to be a senator or representative, a lobbyist, a lawyer, or a member of
the press corps. Within the press, there are the options of print media,
broadcasting, photography, and social media.
Seniors Zarrin Alam and Laura Wright were the program’s first social media
editors, and Wright won an Outstanding Media Personnel award for her services
in the media program. Both girls enjoyed the conference immensely. “It was a
really great experience. I have a better understanding of how government works
now while having tons of fun,” said Alam. She added that “the 4 days were too
short.”
Another impressive victory for Apex came when the school won a Spirit
of Debate award, thanks to the efforts of seniors Declan Cleary and Eric
Swartz. Cleary and Swartz wrote a bill to lower the voting age for school board
elections. The bill was heavily debated in the mock committees and both houses
of the mock congress, and it passed in both as well. Upon reaching the desk of the
youth governor, the head student officer of the program, extensive discussion
once again ensued. While it was not signed by the governor, the bill received much
attention from various groups. Both Cleary and Swartz enjoyed themselves thoroughly,
and Cleary said, “The conference succeeded in presenting a political
environment to teens, and excelled at getting them interested and involved.” Swartz
remarked , “It was fast paced, and you had to be on top of things to keep up.
Even so, it was an interesting experience.”
Sponsors Maret Jones and Adam
White plan to bring the club back next year. They hope to generate additional
student interest in the program to form a larger delegation for the next
conference. Jones and White urge students interested in careers in the media or
the government to join the club and attend the conference next February.
