Arkansas Boys State Reflection

As I reflect on the extracurricular activities that I was a part of during my high school years, one program stands out above the rest—Arkansas Boys State. Going into the program, I was unsure of how the program would benefit me as a senior in high school. I did not have any interest in politics, nor did I want to learn about it. I was the only student from my school who attended Boys State. I was surrounded by seniors of the same level of intellect, and I was very intimidated. However, I decided that I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and participate to my full ability. Boys State is essentially a large government simulation. All of the candidates are split into eight counties and two towns in each. I was placed in the city of Partee in Womack County. …show more content…
The meeting was very eye opening because there were many different boys in the state of Arkansas that have completely different backgrounds and lifestyles than my own. I have not had the opportunity to be around people who are different from me. My high school and community are not diverse. It is mainly a white, Protestant community. I met one senior who has taken care of his parents and his younger siblings his whole life. He has worked everyday just to keep his family afloat. I was astonished to see how selfless he was to put his high school life on hold—applying to college, going to football games, attending school dances—because he needed to provide for his family. It made me realize how fortunate I am for the life I have been provided by my