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| WELCOME TO BOYS STATE LIVE 2011! | |
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Saturday Afternoon Update
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| It's the second Saturday of June, and that can only mean one thing....it's time again for Illinois Boys State. Over 550 high school junior boys are arriving one by one. This afternoon is primarily reserved for the registration process. The students are given the opportunity to relax, unpack, get to know their roommate, meeting up with hometown friends to find out where they are staying, and explore the campus. At 5:00 PM tonight, counties will have their orientation session, followed by supper. Meanwhile, the Boys State band has their first rehearsal this afternoon, and believe it or not, after one 3 hour rehearsal, they will put on a 30 minute concert tonight at 7:30 for all citizens and staff at the evening's General Assembly. |
Premier Boys State was an unforgettable experience. Being thrown into a dorm of boys from different backgrounds and upbringings was one thing, but then having to make speeches to those strangers and run against them in elections was a daunting task that tested my resilience pushed my bravery beyond its outer limits. Premier Boys State aided me in projecting self-confidence and developing quick, on-your-feet thinking skills like no other program I’d participated in before. I’m forever thankful to the program for forcing me from Day One to break out of my shell, meet new people, and develop a relationship with those people so that they’d vote for me. Before attending Premier Boys State, I was unsure as to whether or not I wanted to run for an elected office, but now that uncertainty has changed to an absolute “Yes.” Boys State made me want to become a politician, and it made me a better speaker, leader, and citizen. Peter Kallis |
