Without the support and guidance of a few influential educators in my teenage life, I very likely may have found myself stuck in the cycle of drug addiction and domestic instability that characterized my home in those same years. As a young student, and now as a teacher, I never underestimate the power of advocacy in a student's life.

I was fortunate to have an advocate, a singular experience that offered me a sense of safety and confidence as a high school student that I lacked elsewhere and taught me a powerful lesson about the value of the pursuit of education. My advocate, Mr. Messenger, was my student government adviser. He encouraged me to join Youth in Government (YIG), a national program of the YMCA that involves thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized, model government programs. The motto of YIG is simple but powerful, "Democracy must be learned by each generation." The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature.

When Mr. Messenger first reached out to me in tenth grade, I was living in a cramped motel room with my family. For the past three years, we had lived in a series of motels after being evicted from our apartment for failing to pay rent. We lived day to day. I distinctly recall feeling embarrassed that I didn't have an address, a phone, or new clothes like my affluent peers. My heart sank when I found out that the cost to participate in Youth in Government: $750.00. Saddened that I couldn't afford the program, I stopped attending the weekly meetings.