At Boys State, the students could run for different government positions and practice the positions they were elected as. I decided to run for one of the five Supreme Court Justices, the second highest position in the program. My challenge was to present myself credibly as a candidate and stand out for selection. I hoped that my honest approach to personal growth in the United States as an international student would help the voters to understand me better. I told the assembled student "voters" the following:
Being selected to attend Boys State, of itself, is an awesome achievement for me, an international student who did not excel at any one thing in particular unlike most of you guys. After coming to the U.S. in 2006, I tried almost everything available in this culture that was almost entirely new to me in order to find what I really enjoy. Early on, I tried out for the high school musical, and this presented me numerous challenges. I wanted to be the lead actor so badly, but my Korean accent and difficulty pronouncing words like all, really, world, and girl which contained 'r' or 'l' held me back. Still, my love for musicals was too strong to give up because of my pronunciation difficulty. So, during my first year in the musical, I just persevered and toiled hard to master the sounds that eluded me. Now, I am a lead actor in my school's musicals, and I even manage a straight A average. I have learned that single-minded focus and personal determination are essential tools in addressing such challenges. I may not have much prior knowledge about the politics or the government systems, but I can assure you all that I will study them very diligently and be your proud Supreme Court Justice. Thank you so much.
This speech to my recent acquaintances or delegates was well-received. After the speeches, I went and talked to the students from different dorms in the hope that I would be able to reach out personally to as many students as possible, selling my name before the final election to elect five Supreme Court Justices from thirty candidates.
The next morning, the announcement was made. I was elected one of the five Supreme Court Justices and I then became Chief Justice upon having received the most votes. I was so thankful that my new friends and acquaintances placed their trust in me and that my contacts were well-received. This accomplishment was not about becoming Chief Justice or getting that title, instead, it showed me the value of goal-setting and hard work. I also learned that consistent effort and working with others is key to personal growth. I am still essentially the same person I was when I made the speech, and I still apply myself completely to everything I do, whether someone is watching me or not because I see that as a fundamental trait of solid character. It is not about what I begin with or when I begin, it is about effort, focus, and determination, and making the most out of each opportunity.
Being selected to attend Boys State, of itself, is an awesome achievement for me, an international student who did not excel at any one thing in particular unlike most of you guys. After coming to the U.S. in 2006, I tried almost everything available in this culture that was almost entirely new to me in order to find what I really enjoy. Early on, I tried out for the high school musical, and this presented me numerous challenges. I wanted to be the lead actor so badly, but my Korean accent and difficulty pronouncing words like all, really, world, and girl which contained 'r' or 'l' held me back. Still, my love for musicals was too strong to give up because of my pronunciation difficulty. So, during my first year in the musical, I just persevered and toiled hard to master the sounds that eluded me. Now, I am a lead actor in my school's musicals, and I even manage a straight A average. I have learned that single-minded focus and personal determination are essential tools in addressing such challenges. I may not have much prior knowledge about the politics or the government systems, but I can assure you all that I will study them very diligently and be your proud Supreme Court Justice. Thank you so much.
This speech to my recent acquaintances or delegates was well-received. After the speeches, I went and talked to the students from different dorms in the hope that I would be able to reach out personally to as many students as possible, selling my name before the final election to elect five Supreme Court Justices from thirty candidates.
The next morning, the announcement was made. I was elected one of the five Supreme Court Justices and I then became Chief Justice upon having received the most votes. I was so thankful that my new friends and acquaintances placed their trust in me and that my contacts were well-received. This accomplishment was not about becoming Chief Justice or getting that title, instead, it showed me the value of goal-setting and hard work. I also learned that consistent effort and working with others is key to personal growth. I am still essentially the same person I was when I made the speech, and I still apply myself completely to everything I do, whether someone is watching me or not because I see that as a fundamental trait of solid character. It is not about what I begin with or when I begin, it is about effort, focus, and determination, and making the most out of each opportunity.