On the heels of Mercer Island High School senior Jack Dalton’s final year of high school, this year also marks his last participation in the YMCA Youth and Government program, which he joined in eighth grade.

The YMCA initiative is a 70-year-old national program that encourages eighth to 12th graders to learn about the political system and gain leadership skills through civic education and mock governmental proceedings, according to the YMCA website.

“They meet at local YMCAs during the school year and learn how to prepare and present legislative bills to the House and Senate at the Annual Youth Legislature (YAG) for four days in Olympia each May,” said Dalton’s mother, Sheri Edwards, in an email.

When Edwards introduced her son to the program, it seemed like a perfect channel for his love of arguing. Dalton said once he started, he immediately loved it.

“I just kept getting more and more involved, and I think that’s what kept me in the program all five years, my desire to be involved,” he said. “I loved taking leadership positions in an effort to inspire others to create change as the program had done for me.”

Over the last five years, Dalton has held various positions:Senate sergeant at arms, member of the governor’s cabinet and chief of staff of the governor’s cabinet. He has and served as the president pro tempore of the Senate at the 77th annual YAG legislative session in Olympia — where he was honored for his five years of service and involvement.

Dalton has held leadership positions in the program since ninth grade. He said serving as the president pro tempore of the Senate, and presiding over the 12th and eighth-grade, Senate were significant leadership milestones.

“It was a very good experience, and since it was an elected position, it showed that the people in the program had a lot of respect for me and they trusted me to help run the program which means a lot,” he said.

Other positions in the program — such as serving on the youth governor’s cabinet for two years — inspired Dalton to contemplate a future career as a political advisor. As he transitions into college, Dalton said he wants to add political science as his second major and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies due to his advocacy for Israel within the program.

“Without the program, the idea of working in politics and advocating for something I believe in would’ve never occurred to me or have been a possibility. I feel the program also has made me very equipped to take on political issues going forward,” he said.

Dalton said the program not only helps young people become well-versed in government and politics but also helps with confidence and provides a space where people of various political views can respectfully debate, something he believes is”key to creating bipartisanship in the younger generation.”

“Once you’re in the program, my biggest piece of advice is to get as involved as you want. If even a part of you wants to run for something, go for it. If you want to try a new position in the program go for it. Don’t let anyone hold you back from what you want to achieve in the program,” Dalton said.

Photo courtesy of Sheri Edwards Jack Dalton’s five-year engagement in the program has influenced both his personal growth and future trajectory.