Clinton students attend Junior Youth Assembly
Pictured (l to r) are, front row: Will Harvey, Gabrielle McKinley, ZZ Wallace, Janae Sinclair, Peyton Metz, Morgyn Redmond, Judah Vandersteen, Taleah Davis and District 56 Representative Clay Mansell; and back row: Alyssandra Mercedes, Kennedy Denson, Colton Lay, Bradley Hanna, Orion Pradhan, Brahmleen Kaur, Malia Turner and Malaya Turner.
Students from Clinton Junior High School (CJHS) recently attended the Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly at the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson. The Junior Youth Assembly is a model state government conference that allows students to develop their leadership skills through a hands-on experience of how Mississippi’s legislature operates. Participants author their own bills and then debate them through the legislative process with other student legislators from across Mississippi.
The participants also had the opportunity to meet District 56 Representative Clay Mansell, and hear first-hand how bills are developed into laws.
Mansell said he was impressed with many of the proposed bills authored by the student legislators, and even noted a few he would recommend to the actual legislature.
“It is very impressive and encouraging to see so many of our students not only aware of numerous issues facing our state, but already taking an active role in finding solutions to those same issues,” said Mansell.
“JYA provided our students with the special opportunity to step into the shoes of some of our state’s most important leaders,” said CJHS social studies teacher William Harvey, who serves as the delegation advisor for the Clinton students. “They really stepped into that challenge, and grew in poise, knowledge and confidence.”
CJHS students Colton Lay and Gabriella McKinley were selected to serve as Committee Chairs at the conference and presided over the first stages of the law-making process.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Lay. “It really teaches you about being a leader and getting your opinions heard. You learn how to take an idea and get others to support it. You learn that some people have different opinions, and you can learn from them, too.”
Lay’s older brother Cullen is also involved in the program. He was one of the senior high students that served as a student elected official and provided leadership to the program. Cullen presided over the Junior Youth Assembly Senate as Lt. Governor, having been elected at the high school level of the program, the Mississippi Youth Legislature, which was held in November.
“Having the opportunity to meet and debate with the top student leaders in Mississippi is a great experience,” said Cullen Lay. “You have the chance to learn how students from all over our state think about the issues we are facing every day.”
The Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly and Mississippi Youth Legislature conference are held each year and are available to students in public schools, private schools and homeschool groups from across Mississippi. Interested participants may submit an inquiry to Lead.Mississippi@gmail.com.
