TEENS SHINE AT THE CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS
This year's Conference of National Affairs (CONA) was a huge success for our YMCA teams in both results and new perspectives. Claire Oldner of Mckinney describes her experience at CONA "truly life changing". "What I found to be so unique and awesome about the conference is that it isn’t about winning, or destroying other people’s ideas, it really is about bettering yourself and building relationships that you’ll be able to carry with you."
CONA brings out new perspectives for these young adults and allows them to intellectually and respectfully debate on different political ideologies. Experienced delegates, Michael Brown of McKinney and Anastasia Sotiropoulos of Town North, had the opportunity to partake in the pro and con intent speeches, which is an uncommon opportunity at CONA. Not only that, newcomer Rajpal Bal of Mckinney also had the chance to participate in the pro and con intent speeches which is also an extremely rare opportunity. Oak Cliff delegates Jariah Cole and Gloria Ogunlade, Plano delegate Brayden Miller, and McKinney delegates Alex Searles and Claire Oldner contributed greatly to the events throughout the day.
Participating in events like CONA remind the Youth and Government participants how far their passions can take them when they are motivated and determined to achieve their goals. Sharif Long, the outgoing Governor of Duncanville High School and Oak Cliff Y proves this by winning a trifecta of awards at CONA. Long received the Outstanding Proposal, Outstanding Statesman and Presiding Officer for 2019. Being selected as the Presiding Officer is a huge opportunity for Long, as only six participants are selected to return from college and run the conference the following year. Long was praised from other site directors at CONA for his achievements which Jenna Struble, the Dallas YMCA's Association Teen Director and District Director for Youth and Government, could not have been more proud of.
The passion the participants have in challenging themselves to think outside the norms of political ideology is inspiring. "My love for the program has grown exponentially since I began, leading me to want to improve it more and more as time progresses. I believe in this program more than anything, and I carry the values I’ve learned from it with me everywhere I go." Claire Oldner says. "The passion and desire to better our world that I have gotten from Youth and Government has made me a better person, citizen, and student. As someone who wants to go into politics, I see myself carrying those values with me as I grow up. This program sparked my interest in politics, and I know that the ideas and morals from Youth and Government are what has been and what will keep me going in years to come."
At the end of July, 2 teams from Coppell YMCA, 1 teams from Oak Cliff Y and 1 team from Town North will be competing in the National Judicial Competition in Chicago. We wish these teams the best of luck and will be cheering them on from Texas!
For more information about CONA, visit: Texas Youth & Government - Conference on National Affairs
Authored: Colleen McCauley, 2018 YMCA Dallas Storyteller Intern