Boys State Application Essay Examples
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” -Booker T. Washington I remember the day I found out I was nominated to participate in the Boys State program. Having a personal interest in politics and local government, I was honored and thrilled at the opportunity to learn first hand from our state officials.
My ultimate goal was to be elected Speaker of the House, secretly the most powerful position in government. To accomplish this, I went above and beyond, staging a full-scale campaign, including flyers, buttons, emails, and a published agenda. My motto was "Delaware Economy First" and "Delaware - Small State, Unlimited Potential.” When the first day of Boys State arrived, I went in with confidence. As the program started, I soon realized that my enthusiasm was not regarded as positively as anticipated, and that many of the participants didn't share the same drive, interest and values I had for the program. Although my campaign proved successful, my aggressiveness backfired on me, and ultimately demonstrated how challenging holding a position of leadership truly is. What I could not foresee was the level of opposition and controversy I would face as a result. Following the guidelines of my …show more content…
I discovered that even with the best of intentions, you cannot please everyone; there will always be opposition and not everyone will like you. I realized being an elected official is more challenging than I expected. I recognized in the face of controversy, it is important to listen to others’ point of view while remaining true to your own beliefs. I found out I am resilient and able to turn a stressful situation into a learning experience. I learned I can rise above negativity and come out on top. I am proud to have overcome this challenge and for my ability to look at it as a positive
My ultimate goal was to be elected Speaker of the House, secretly the most powerful position in government. To accomplish this, I went above and beyond, staging a full-scale campaign, including flyers, buttons, emails, and a published agenda. My motto was "Delaware Economy First" and "Delaware - Small State, Unlimited Potential.” When the first day of Boys State arrived, I went in with confidence. As the program started, I soon realized that my enthusiasm was not regarded as positively as anticipated, and that many of the participants didn't share the same drive, interest and values I had for the program. Although my campaign proved successful, my aggressiveness backfired on me, and ultimately demonstrated how challenging holding a position of leadership truly is. What I could not foresee was the level of opposition and controversy I would face as a result. Following the guidelines of my …show more content…
I discovered that even with the best of intentions, you cannot please everyone; there will always be opposition and not everyone will like you. I realized being an elected official is more challenging than I expected. I recognized in the face of controversy, it is important to listen to others’ point of view while remaining true to your own beliefs. I found out I am resilient and able to turn a stressful situation into a learning experience. I learned I can rise above negativity and come out on top. I am proud to have overcome this challenge and for my ability to look at it as a positive