Help Melinda go to Youth in Government Conference

Hi my name is Tamara Nichols and I would like help with sending my daughter Melinda to National Conference for Youth in Goverment. Below is a little about Melinda and the Youth in Goverment program. We are trying to raise money for her travel expenses.

Hello, my name is Melinda and I live my life by a rule. One very simple rule, backed by the jagged, intricate workings of my mind to find what brings meaning to my life. Live in a way that brings passion and joy to the forefront of your mind every day. To be honest, I live this way from fear. Fear of the uncertainty of my life as well as my afterlife. Every moment that I breathe, that I blink, that I think isn’t secure. I don’t know what’s going to happen in a few minutes. I don’t know what’s going to happen the next day. Day in and day out, that realization hangs over me like a dense fog. From that, I vowed many years back to surround myself with my profound passions and the activities that make me happy. And trust me, I have.

As a rising junior at Mount Pleasant High School, I am involved in a lot of things, both inside and outside of school. I am a Diploma Candidate for the International Baccalaureate Program, which is the highest possible education for students to receive at the high school level. I am also the lead in my engineering shop. I was a part of the Blue-Gold for my freshman year, which works to bridge the gap between those with disabilities and those without. For sports, I manage girls' volleyball, throw shot put for indoor track, and play softball. Outside of school, I recently participated in and completed training to become a Racial and Social Justice Leader through the YWCA. I also partake in a ton of community service. Through the YMCA, I am a part of the Black Achievers program which provides college and career readiness. I am also a part of the Youth in Government program, also run by the YMCA.

Youth in Government strives to give a model of the legislative and judicial process to youth considering that path. The legislative side comes up with ideas for new laws to pass through a House of Representatives and Senate made up of kids. The judicial side conducts trials at the appellate level, arguing in front of the Chief Justice and/or Associate Justices that have been voted in. After spending a long and strenuous weekend in April down at Legislative Hall and Kent County Courthouse arguing alongside my partner attorney, I achieved my goal that I set for myself at the beginning of the process. The Delegation Leaders voted me for the Best First Year Attorney. Little did I know, my fellow attorneys had also voted me as one of the eight kids to represent Delaware at the National Judicial Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the end of July. Nationals is just like the statewide competition, except with an entirely new court case, and even less time to do it.

Youth in Government is important to me because I want to be an Urban Planner. I find it important to preserve the Earth so that there is a foundations for many future generations to come. I want to specialize in the environmental aspect. Things such as making sure we’re building with sustainable materials to prevent damage to the ecosystem, creating greener cities with more plants to help the oxygen, combating air pollution, and teaching the youth the importance of environmental sustainability so they can continue the cycle onto the next generation. By participating in YIG, not only do I get a look into how laws are made, but I also develop useful skills such as creating a concise and attention-grabbing speech, researching efficiently, and the ability to think on my feet. These are very essential to my race to gain knowledge in the subject before heading off to college.

As you can see, I keep very busy. But I entertain myself with things that I enjoy doing that help to build a better me for myself. While my future might not be certain, I do know that the time I am given unopposed, will be used building myself and creating an impact on those around me. That is the one thing I am secure in.

Also, please pass this along to anyone else that you think would like to help.

All donations and passing along of this message is greatly appreciated. Thank You and will keep everyone posted of her progress at Nationals.