2023 USSYP Yearbook - Flipbook - Page 49
The Senate Youth Program provided us
with an eye-opening forum that broke
down the seemingly impenetrable walls
of political partisanship.
Will Nelson (ND – 2023)
Robert Henry’s claim that “public
service is the rent we pay for
the space we occupy” caused
me to reflect on conceptions
of territory, indebtedness and
reparation throughout American
history, from the Trail of Tears to
Japanese internment.
Maxton Torres (FL – 2023)
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said: “I now view connecting myself
to a support system not as a distraction, but a source of necessary
energy.” His words also reminded me that no matter what I do, it
has always been and will always be about the people I serve.
In the words of
General Mark
Milley, “You
don’t have to
serve in the
military as long
as you serve.”
Those words
are etched in my
memory.
Sukesh Kamesh (KS – 2023)
Summer Sun (CA – 2023)
To put it briefly, this
program opened
my eyes to the
realization I am not
alone on my journey
of working to create
a better tomorrow.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
advised us that the best way to preserve
different cultures and celebrate our
differences is “to be unapologetically
you.” Not only did I love learning from
the people of USSYP, who inspire me and
strengthen my faith in our democracy,
I loved who I became around them. I
became, unapologetically, me.
Natalie Emmerson (ME – 2023)
Maverick Yasuda (HI – 2023)
UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM 2023 | 47
