Story and Illustration by Camryn Casey, Shakopee; Edited by Lale Akkin, Mounds View
Meghan Shea is a former Youth In Government member still involved in the program. Shea joined Youth in Government to make connections, grow as a leader, and learn in a youth-run setting. Little did she know, this program would open many opportunities and help her become the woman she is today.
From 1996 to 1999 Shea was intensely involved in the Youth in Government program. She was a part of the Humphrey House committee her first and second years and ran for Humphrey House Clerk. Though she did not get the results she wanted, Shea was on the security council in her third year and the attorney general in her fourth year. In her last year as a delegate, she became the youth governor. She participated in the national assembly for three years but her proposal passed only once. Today, Shea volunteers as a lobbyist, is an active donor on the board, and is a part of the Alabama Exchange program. Though Shea’s YIG career is over, she is still active and gives back to the program.
There are many changes YIG has made to elevate delegates’ experiences at the conference. Shea recalls three unique differences between YIG then and now, from new program areas to safety precautions. To begin, there used to be more legislative bodies. Currently, there are six houses where bills are passed in larger settings. Back then, there were four confined groups where delegates could engage in deeper conversation and have fewer bills to debate on. Next, they held elections at the beginning of the conference to decide officers for that current conference. Now, delegates have the whole conference to decide on future officers. Lastly, lobbyists got budgets to take their co-workers out to coffee because YIG officials wished to give students the full lobbyist experience. This stopped to ensure fairness to each program area.
Shea has been involved in this program for over thirty years. Through adulthood, she was a board member and stayed involved in the YMCA with Camp Ihduhapi. She says knowledge from YIG is never forgotten and tells youth to remain in the program because the lessons learned will last a lifetime. YIG is also a place to find connections. Shea still engages with friends from the 1999 conference. Lastly, YIG is a place to find a passion. After the conference, YIG knowledge can make positive changes in people’s lives.