Editor’s note: The following speech was delivered before the Mat-Su Borough Assembly on Oct. 6 by Samuel Gull, the president of Mat-Su Valley Club America, a local youth movement associated with Turning Point USA.
I’m a senior in high school, and I’m the president of Mat-Su Valley Club America. Our club is a youth movement focused on helping young people understand what it means to be an American and encouraging my generation to become involved in our community and government.
Our mission is to learn about American values and history, become leaders with strong character, build relationships, and serve our community. We want to encourage teens to take initiative, discover their purpose, and make a positive impact in America.
I believe one of the most important things we can do right now is invest in my generation and in the generation coming behind us. We are going to be the voters, community leaders, business owners, parents, and elected officials of the future. But we can’t protect the principles of our country if we don’t understand where they came from.
Club America wants to make the truth behind American history, the Constitution, our freedoms, and our nation’s Christian moral foundations interesting to learn, and explain why they are important to young people. We want students to understand not only what our rights are, but also the responsibility that comes with having those rights.
First Timothy 4:12 tells us young people not to let anyone look down on them because of their youth, but to set an example in how they live. That’s really what we want this club to be about. Young people realize that they don’t have to wait until they’re older to lead, serve, and make a difference.
I appreciate this quote from Thomas Jefferson: “To develop the reasoning faculties of our youth, enlarge their minds, and instill into them the precepts of virtue and order.” With that in mind, I would like to bring to attention the importance of teaching the youth the true intentions behind our country’s founding.
We also want to have fun. Our next meeting is October 9th, when we are having a debate night where students will get to defend their opinions while being challenged by the rest of the group. Then on October 23rd, we’re having our next meeting. We’re holding a mock election, giving students a chance to learn how elections work and debate some of the issues voters face. Middle school and high school students are welcome. We’d love to have more young people join us as we learn, lead, serve, prepare, and become the next generation of American leaders.
LEARN MORE
The next Mat-Su Valley Club America meeting is on Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m., at Mat-Su Central School (2055 N. Stringfield Rd., Palmer).
