Jersey Boys State Reflection

Earlier this year, I was selected as my local chapter’s delegate to the American Legion Jersey Boys State. This was a new experience for me as this was the first time I was away from home with no one I knew. The main focus of that weeklong seminar was elections and although I knew I was competing against some of the best students in the state, I wanted to see what I could do. So I ran to be my floor’s ward leader, and won. Then I ran for my city council member, and won. Then I ran to by my county Vice-chair, and won. Then I ran to be my county senator, and lost. This was by far the most disappointing moment of the week. I had worked hard to climb up the mock political ladder and even had started imagining making it to the top. However, the

Because of this, I was selected to Party Secretary and, along with three other appointees, was left to organize the debate. The four of us worked tirelessly, and on the day of the debate, it payed off. It is one of my prouder honors to say that that we four appointees had kept five hundred of our peer organized and in check throughout an entire two hour long political debate. Looking back on this, I realized how much I learned from the experience. I had learned to succeed but I had also learned to fail. I overcame a discouraging loss and ultimately made it farther than I think I would have had I won the senatorial election. I also learned to work with others. Those three appointees and I were given a task that would have been impossible to do alone. However, through collaboration and hard work, we were able to pull it off, surprising even ourselves. All that I learned about myself that week has helped my through life since, and I believe it will allow me to succeed at Penn