The Daily Delegate

By Kiara Labrador and Emily Rebello

Are advisors making an impact on their delegation? Advisors impact on a delegation is crucial to the experiences of Youth and Government and being in a delegation. After interviewing multiple delegates, the true fingerprints left on delegates lives has been clearly shown and the mark they leave that doesn’t just appear through Y and G but it appears in a delegates personal life.

Advisors are a key element to a delegation’s success and their willingness to reach new limits. An advisor’s goal and mission is to encourage and ensure each delegate’s success. Tommy Reason, a delegate from the Santa Anita YMCA who is running for Youth Governor, stated “They stay up night and day to … talk to me or just help me with my campaign”. An advisor who goes above and beyond to support their delegates and ensures a delegate is never alone during their Y&G journey leaves a mark on these delegates for the Santa Anita YMCA, such as advisor Kristy Hernandez. Delegates feel the way an advisor cares and the way an advisor works hard for their delegation. “They have literally saved our delegation” responded Zoey Reina, another Youth Governor candidate, when asked about her advisor Kayla Cabrera in the Antelope Valley YMCA, “She’s helped me with my speech”. Advisors taking time to meet with the delegates and work with them helped bring an entire delegation together. Year after year advisors take time out of their weeks and free time to make sure we all have what we need to succeed, even when running for a big position like Youth Governor.

An advisor is not only someone who impacts a delegation, but the lives of their delegates. Kiara Labrador, a delegate from Mid Valley expressed that recently Mid Valley has lost their advisor, Nathan Godinez. “He was more than an advisor to us, like a family member.” Perfectly said by Ani Murillo, “He acts as a second home.” Similar was stated by Mavidy Granada  from Midvalley, ”whenever we felt like no one at home or anyone in our lives were there to support us, he was there to support us.” Even after an advisor is gone, the impact on delegates lives shows and displays that the care and love an advisor shows soaks through the Y and G adventures. 

Advisors also show up in hard times, when a delegation is struggling or feeling stuck. Natalie Valdés, a delegate from Sonoma when questioned about her advisor expressed; ”she’s like my mom when I’m here”. Their advisor Crystal Sowards is always there for her delegation; Valdés states that her advisor  “doesn’t just show up in times of success … she’s been the advisor in the past three years that has showed up when I failed and I’ve had hard times”. Advisors are not just there to encourage you or make sure you’re having fun. They see your failures, mistakes, and shortcomings, but an advisor sticks with you, sits you down, and helps you keep going and start again. 

Advisors have a huge impact on their delegation . Y&G wouldn’t be what it is today without an amazing advisor who can help lead you,comfort you, and feel safe. Every advisor from every delegation does what is hard, seems impossible, or some things nobody will every notice or appreciate. The most difficult yet one of the most important jobs inside of Youth and Government. To all Advisors; thank you for all you do, you’ve impacted each and every one of our lives so much.