Two students from Aledo High School were recently selected to participate in what has been described as “one of the most selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.”
Logan Kasper and Jackson Hamner were invited to the Texas Boys State, a program in which students participate in the operation of local, county, and state governments. According to the organization, students “are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities, of a franchised citizen.”
Kasper, 18, said he was not quite sure what to expect when he accepted the invitation to the program, but said it was an experience beyond anything he ever could have ever imagined.
“The program was so much better than I had thought it was going to be,” Kasper said. “I had worried that I would struggle to make friends or adjust to such a new environment, but the counselors made it so much more manageable, and my city really got along and became like a big friend group.”
Aside from the social aspect, Kasper said the content of the program also exceeded his expectations.
“Once we got our feet on the ground, it became almost entirely student-run, with students organizing and running committees, meetings, elections, and the counselors simply monitoring,” Kasper said. “It was really interesting to see how quickly we could adjust to the positions of power and be able to grab and hold the room’s attention.”
Students at Boys State are selected by schools and legion posts throughout the state of Texas, and, apparently, the competition is stiff.
Participants engage in civil discourse with an eye toward developing civic leadership and pride in American citizenship, along with an interest in government, an understanding of American traditions, and a commitment to protect and preserve the American form of government.
Kasper, who participates in a variety of activities at Aledo High School, including Aledo Players, HOSA, Student Council, National Honor Society, Young Men’s Service League, UIL Academics, Aledo Young Life, and Aledo Wyldlife, said at Boys State most of the participants had similar resumes.
“One of the most important takeaways I got from the event was remembering that every single person there came from a place where they were highly involved and excelled, meaning that nobody was better than anybody else,” Kasper said.
Though he does not plan to pursue a career in politics, Kasper said the program was valuable to him in other ways.
“We were all on the same playing field of like-minded individuals with similar ideals and goals, which made it a lot easier to work together instead of trying to compare ourselves or outdo one another,” Kasper said. “It was also such a great preparation for college, living in the dorms, making new friends, exploring the campus, and coming into contact with varying beliefs.”
Kasper is considering University of Texas in Austin, SMU, Belmont, and University of Oklahoma as possible college options, but has not yet decided where he will attend.
Jackson Hamner (shown) and Logan Kasper represented Aledo at the prestigious Texas Boys State program in which students study and participate in the operation of local, county and state governments.
For Hamner, 16, who participates in UIL mathematics and robotics, the aspect of the event that struck him the most was the reminder of the importance of humility and perseverance in the world of politics.
“The first thing I realized was that just because you fail at something on the first try, does not mean that you should not try again,” Hamner said. “I saw a lot of people coming to the same realization. They would run for a position, lose, get back on their feet, and keep trying.
"Another thing I learned was that, fundamentally, everyone wants to have the same opportunities and ability to live to their potential. In other words, most people want to have prosperity and there are just disagreements on how to get there.”
According to Texas Boys State, when students arrive, they are each assigned to one of two fictional political parties, which are the "Nationalists" and the "Federalists."
The entire program is non-partisan and the problems considered apply to any existing political party and are free from propaganda.
Hamner is still undecided about whether he plans to pursue a career in politics but said if he does, the conditions would have to be right.
“Entering the political scene is a very daunting task that is frightening and requires tons of effort,” Hamner said. “For me, it would depend on several factors at the time I enter, if I enter politics. If I was going to enter, I would start at the state legislature and hopefully move on from there to the U.S. Congress.”
Hamner said the program did affect his view of the current state of politics in the country, and said that based on what he heard and observed during the event, he has a feeling things may be headed in a certain direction.
“It may just be the subset of people I was interacting with, but I do believe that there is a coming political shift to the center-right,” Hamner said. “A lot of people I talked with wanted a return to normalcy and moderation in politics. A lot of people were tired of the division and hatred that a lot of politicians on opposite sides seemed to have for each other.”
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