The Governor’s Press Conference: Instagram Live Edition
By: Olivia Otto
KYA HS 2 Governor: Darby Greenwell
KYA would be nothing without its Presiding Officers. They put so much effort into making this conference a fun and safe environment where everyone can express themselves. These people still manage to keep a smile on their faces even after hours of work. Especially this year, the work for all of the Presiding Officers has been hard and each year brings a new challenge. With the world’s current situation, it was hard for the officers to push through the boundaries of COVID-19, but they have handled it like the professionals they are. On Thursday, November 19, the KYYMCA Media Corps Instagram held a livestream where Governor Darby Greenwell answered some questions about her life at the Y and her position.
KYA’s main idea this year is A Spark Ignited. This theme goes to show that no matter the circumstance, the Y will always stay connected with its people and present in current events. So when Darby was asked “Why did you choose the Y?” you can bet she was excited to share her answer. Many Y students begin their journey not interested in politics; they are fascinated with the idea of leaving school for three days. However, they eventually grow to love this community and strive to come back each year; this was Darby’s exact experience when she first joined KYA in her 6th grade year. “I absolutely hated social studies, didn’t want anything to do with government, and thought it was boring,” she said. However, her small start as a bill author was a “liberating feeling she’d never felt before”. Before joining the Y, Darby felt as though politics were just an adult issue and nothing she said would be important until she crossed into adulthood. However, once she gave her first speech, she knew from that moment on that she and the many other delegates had a voice and could use it whenever they wanted to. Throughout the next 7 years, Darby would continue to strengthen her involvement in the Y-Club.
No one could have predicted COVID-19 sweeping the world; last year obviously looked much different than now, and Darby had to improvise, adapting her policies from last year to fit present day. It was disappointing to see all of her hard work go virtual, but as Darby states, “We cared about the program, not necessarily the place.” Keeping positive energy during this whole process has definitely helped Darby and the other officers; it is especially seen when delegates also maintain a happy state by participating. While the Coronavirus has taken over our lives, she also talks about how it has opened our eyes to see the world we truly live in. Whether it be racial injustice or economic development, it is always important to find the best ways to improve our state. Her position as a Presiding Officer changed the way she was able to view these issues, as well. Instead of simply watching the news, she held herself accountable for keeping up with her platforms and addressing modern issues.
When asked her favorite moment of KYA, she couldn’t help but say her candidacy. “When you’re a candidate, you really have to push yourself above and beyond,” she says. It was an amazing experience getting to know everyone and knowing that her voice was being heard. For those candidates of this year and people who want to be a presiding officer in the future, Darby also has some advice for you; one of the most important parts of your candidacy is authenticity. “It is very obvious for voters to see when you’re pushing a persona. In the past, the presiding officers I’ve seen elected are just themselves. They talk from their heart, they wanna relate to you, but they’re relating to you from their perspective, so don’t try and force anything.”
Being inspired by this year’s theme, she remembers how inspiring her time at past KYA conferences have been. “In these uncertain times where we have 300 people sign up for a virtual conference, that just goes to show that we still care, and that is the spark of the Y.” During this time, she would also like to say a huge thank you to every special program of KYA for putting their best effort out and continuing to ignite the spark. Carrying over the KYA spark, Darby hopes to take what she’s learned from KYA through her future. She states, “I’m planning on majoring in political science. I wanna work on campaigns and maybe run for office. I don’t wanna get rid of the feeling of sharing my voice and ideas.” If you are like Darby and want to get more involved in government, she recommends to find exactly what you’re passionate about; “No one person can attack every single issue.” Make sure to learn what you can about your passion and eventually reach out and take action (whether it be reaching out to your representatives, lobbying for bills, or getting in contact with service agencies).
As the press conference came to an end, I felt much more educated and ready to dive into KYA even further than before. Darby was excellent and is sure to make you feel right at home during this conference. Make sure to visit the silent disco to see Darby and the other officers!
