What kind of opportunities did you not know existed until you were in this environment?

Well, for one thing, um, I did not know that opportunities like this program existed, which is so ironic considering that I now work with this program every single day.

But, um, I will say, like, obviously this program did not exist at the time when I was in high school, 'cause it's, we're going into our fifth year now.

But, um, I feel like- Just the, everything that this program offers, the things that we've been able to, um, give y'all as far as, like, opportunities, connect y'all with people, I would've loved something like this when I was in high school, as a high school senior, because this would've been right up my alley.

I would've been the one, you know, calling the office being like, "When is, when is the application going live? I would love to be part of something like that." And so, um, that's just been something that has just been so rewarding for me personally.

Um, obviously that's not the only responsibility I have at the Secretary of State's office, but, um, ever since I have been able to work with this program, just seeing, um, getting to bring together all of these students from all over the state and just seeing them come together and learn about leadership, because they are our next generation.

And so it's just so cool to me, um, to see that, and to be able to promote that and talk about that, um, when I go places and say, "Hey, we have this amazing program here at the office." And that's why, um, you know, going into our fifth year, I feel like we're only, um, becoming more and more well-known around the state as the program that does go the extra mile, and it gives them the opportunities that they need, um, to be our next, I mean, who knows, C- CEO, um, maybe our next governor of the state.

[laughs]