Massachusetts YMCA Youth & Government

The Massachusetts Youth and Government program has allowed me to build a positive outlook in many aspects of my life. Youth and Government has exposed me to the importance of diversity and cultural competence. Within Youth and Government almost every religion and culture is represented which defines the character of the program. In the real world we live through economic issues, political biases and wars that almost always lead back to ethnic and cultural intolerance. The Youth and Government program teaches you how to respect someone that may be the exact opposite in terms of beliefs, faith, and overall mindset. This program recognizes the strength and potential in every child no matter their ethnicity, religion, or culture. Youth and Government instills the values that are needed to be successful in the program and in life.

Coming into Youth and Government in my Freshman year, I was quiet, shy, and took every opportunity I could to follow others, not taking the initiative to lead. Now, in my Junior year, I couldn’t be more different. Youth and Government has truly changed my life; I am now comfortable speaking in front of a large group of people, and I am not afraid to stand up for my beliefs and my opinions. Youth and Government has taught me the true meaning of what it is to be a leader, and how to live my life using the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. If it weren’t for Youth and Government, I would not be the person that I am today. I would not have the initiative or the drive to meet other people and hear what they think; I would not live every day striving to do my best; and I would not be a leader. Youth and Government changed me for the better, as it has done for thousands of kids in Massachusetts and across the United States.