Wild times by night, serious politics by day: Tired of all the apathy? Junior Statesmen of America is a great way to get involved
A teen describes her experience with her school’s JSA Program.
“I remember my first convention. It was Spring State and I was a sophomore. Spring State is a three-day, two-night convention in a Los Angeles hotel where Junior Statesmen of America members from all over Southern California get together to meet, vote, debate, and socialize. I was there more for the socializing—at first.
When I got there I was overwhelmed by the chaos and frantic hysteria. Campaign flyers, stickers, and promises were hurled at me before I could take my second step into the hotel. Three-piece-suited familiar faces like Ari Moss, an old friend from junior high, seemed so unfamiliar in his campaigning mode. He and other campaigners approached me and pleaded for a second of my time to convince me that the Junior State needed a change and they were the ones to provide it.
“…I will expand chapter communications…”
“…We need to end the bureaucracy…”
“…Furthering activism in the speaker’s department is what I plan to do…”
What is this? Are these teens like me or is this The Attack of the Deranged Political Candidates? How do I know what the Junior State needs? Do I even know what the junior state is? I asked myself these questions as I continued to smile and nod to the pushy candidates.
After the shock of my arrival I found the convention to be very fun. Not only did I socialize but I got into the debates. I understood the campaigning was in regard to the annual elections that are held during Spring State. Once I wanted to participate I discovered it was easy to locate someone to explain the inner workings of J.S.A. For me that was Amy Messigian who, at the time, was running for Vice Mayor and later became the Speaker of the House. She helped me to interact with the higher officials and get into the various activities.
The Junior State is kind of like a student-run mini-government with students elected to all of the positions. There is a Governor, Speaker of the House, CIA (Chapter Involvement Agency—not the other one), mayors, and assembly representatives from local chapters.
Though many high schools have a J.S.A. club, most students don’t know what J.S.A. does and few care beyond the wild overnight conventions. There are games, dating forums, silly debate topics, coffee rooms, and night-time dances (and yes, there are real deejays with current music.) The kids are cool and because the hotel is full of them you can always meet up with great teens.
But don’t overlook J.S.A.’s main mission as a place for politically minded teens to get a head start. We vote, campaign and run mock congress sessions with bills written by J.S.A. members. Most importantly, we lobby. In the ’70s, J.S.A. was one of the main lobbyists for, and eventually helped to pass, the law giving 18-year-olds the right to vote. Right now we are lobbying against juvenile curfews, lobbying for the allowance of pagers in public schools and for condom distribution in all public high schools. Even though the majority of J.S.A. members aren’t 18, old enough to vote, in the Junior State, they have a voice and can really make a change.
I didn’t become fully involved until I was elected Assembly Representative in my senior year. It has been a commitment but it is a commitment I made to myself. Besides the Assembly meetings in the fall and the spring, I am never forced to help out or plan activities. I just know that if I want to help, the help is needed.
The government aspect is only half of J.S.A. If you are not into the Government thing you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of it. First, the conventions, the big ones, are full of excitement. I love politics, still, my favorite part of J.S.A. is meeting all the different people I would never have known without J.S.A.. People like Steve, Jimmy, Lorayne, Oscar or the twins, Sheila and Ilana. Where else can you find the oh-so-cute boys from Servite High, Rim of the World High School hotties, and wild Monroe High girls all in one hotel? From the debates, to the lobbying, to the friends, I have gained so much by opening my mind and becoming a part of J.S.A. and I know you can, too. So, next time you hear someone say “J.S.A. meeting today at lunch!” I suggest you stop in and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.”