Your Celebrities Are Never Too Far: How I Became Someone I Look Up To

My name is Olivia Hay, and I am the Lieutenant Governor for the Pennsylvania Youth and Government program. After continual hard work over the past 6 years, I have reached my goal of becoming the second-highest-ranking officer in all of Pennsylvania. I serve over 700 people across the Commonwealth by teaching parliamentary procedure, creating bill calendars, and leading the Senate in the actual chambers in Harrisburg. 

However, it was not always like this. I began the club in the fall of 2020. My advisor, now my closest mentor, Mr. Z, had eagerly prepared me for my first “model” experience, the conference held every April, where hundreds of students flooded the state capitol and utilized the building to create a mock government for the weekend. Nonetheless, I would not attend the Capitol that year, and neither would anyone else. COVID-19 had turned our goals upside-down. We had hoped that after the spring, when COVID had entered the United States, we would be back in person like the many years before. Despite this, we held a virtual model convention. Because it was online, many people quit.

This led to 7th-grade me debating talented seniors, which I never would have done under a normal model experience. It is safe to say that the bill I presented that year was completely obliterated by those seniors. (Looking back now, they had a reason to! It was rough to say the least.) Then, however, I was heartbroken. Even if the bill was mediocre at best, I had worked hard on it at the time. I vividly remember crying to my advisor about how I never wanted anything to do with this club ever again. It was too difficult, too much, and everyone was far too talented for me to compare. My advisors refused. They saw something in me that day that I only recently discovered. 

The following year, I reluctantly came back. I applied for a club leadership position and got it by some miracle. I felt my spirits rise a little. When we arrived in Harrisburg for model, I understood why my advisors did not let me quit. I spoke in committee until I felt like my mouth would fall off. However, I was still too spooked to speak in the big Senate chamber until I couldn’t avoid it. A co-sponsor of mine had passed his bill through the House of Representatives, which meant it came to me next. I had never and even now never felt more nervous in my entire life to present that bill.

I swear I blacked out the whole time, but by the end of it, more placards had been raised in support of that bill than against. I had done it. I had achieved the highest legislative award in only my second year in the program. I realized then that the celebrities of the program I admired were, in fact, not too far from me to catch up to them. They seemed larger than life. The talented debaters, committee chairs, and presiding officers were perfect in my mind. I decided to try and catch up anyway. 

The next fall, I ran for my first statewide leadership position: Gold Senate Committee Chair. I went into that election believing it was a shot in the deepest dark. However, when the results were announced, it was my name that was called as the most votes, not one of those celebrities I so honored. It was me. I prepared day and night for the model weekend. I succeeded in many ways that weekend. I led my committee with the grace and talent I had seen in others. I passed my own bill as well as another of my co-sponsor’s, once again receiving that award two more times. On top of this, I was nominated for the Conference on National Affairs, where I made friends with people I had never had the pleasure of knowing before. In retrospect, I am happy to report that they are now some of my best friends. 

That year, I again offered my name for another election. I now ran for Blue Senate Committee Chair, one step above where I had been the year before. However, my competition remained strong, stronger than I feared. I put my heart and soul into campaigning and being the best candidate I could be. If I were going down, I would not go without a fight. As it turns out, I did not have to go down. I had won again. I had somehow won against the competition that I had feared for so long. I led my committee once again with talent and now, prior experience. However, also that year, I met new friends and reconnected with the ones from CONA. I was not so small anymore. I was surrounded by loving arms and encouraging words, even if my home did not offer that to me. My friends were the big names that I had always admired. 

Last fall, I took the biggest leap yet. I aimed for one of seven presiding officer positions in the state. I used every ounce of energy, every minute, every experience, and every lesson to conduct the best campaign I had. When the election arrived, I did not have any competition at all. Good, right? Not exactly. The impostor syndrome throughout that day, wondering if they were sure that I was the best choice here, as if they hadn’t elected me twice already. The pure joy in the yells that accompanied me joining the presiding officer team are ones that fuel my heart and mind every day now. My friends had never seemed more proud of me, which is saying something.

During that year, I worked harder than I ever had in my entire life. Every minute, every moment, every breath that was not taken up by school was put into my next hurdle: Lieutenant Governor. My life’s goal stood in front of me, just within reach. I performed my duties as Gold Lieutenant Governor with kindness and care. The Senate I led was filled with talented individuals who I know will change the shape of this world. The same Senate that haunted me four years prior was now filled with the leadership of my heart. My election for Blue Lieutenant Governor was the most daunting task I have ever faced. Nights of tears and yearning filled my life. It came down to that morning. The delegates cast their votes. I sat at my table, not knowing if it would be my first or last time sitting there. 

As the announcer opened the envelope containing the position, they read my name. My people had chosen me again. My head fell into my hands out of pure joy and relief. My home delegation stood and screamed. I looked to the back of the room. Mr. Z watched me with a soft smile on his face. I understood then why he never let me quit. 

In that moment, I learned something. The people we look up to, no matter who they are, are never unreachable. For years, I had put more experienced people on pedestals. I believed that they never made mistakes, never doubted themselves, and most of all, never lost sight of themselves. However, now I stand where those celebrities had, but I do make mistakes. I do doubt myself, and sometimes, I do lose sight of my goals. Someone’s progress is only what they show you. By becoming the second highest rank in all of Pennsylvania, I realized three things. First, my hard work and others’ belief in me will always carry me through. Second, the people who surround you who always seem to be better than you were in your situation first. Most of all, always try to catch up to those who seem out of reach.