Written by Michael User, 2020 Youth Lieutenant Governor
Hello fellow delegates, and welcome to the Youth in Government PreGov Conference of 2020. My name is Michael Usher, and this year I am honored to serve as your youth Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. This is my fourth, and unfortunately last, year of Youth in Government. I joined the Eau Claire Delegation as a freshman, and as a first-year, I was very unsure of the program. The Model Government Conference that year showed me the true value of the Youth in Government program, and I have loved it ever since. I have had the privilege of attending the Conference on National Affairs representing the Wisconsin Delegation for the past three years. Last year, I was elected President of the Eau Claire Delegation, and I was also an advocate for Youth In Government Program in Washington D.C.
Currently, I live in Eau Claire and I am a senior attending Regis High School. Since middle school, I have been interested in politics, debate, and public speaking, and this has led me to pursue the Youth in Government, as well as forensics, and Badger Boys State. Last year, I was a member of the Wisconsin Senate Scholar Class of 2019.
My advice to all delegates, returning and new, is to put yourself out there. Take a risk. Talk to someone you don’t know, meet new people, or run for an elected position. Take a bold stance on an issue, if you believe in what you say and are passionate about it, pursue it. This program is meant for you to speak your mind, and it is far more enjoyable when you do. As the motto of the program states: “Let Your Voice Be Heard.”