East Fairmont High students help make pitch for 'week that shapes a lifetime'
May 20—PLEASANT VALLEY — Before he signed up to attend Mountaineer Boys State last year, East Fairmont High graduating senior Rockett Nichols thought he knew how government functioned.
However, once he stepped foot on the property at Jackson's Mill for the weeklong camp, he knew there was a whole lot more to learn.
"I learned a lot about what it really means to be an American and to live in this country and the different duties that we have as civilians to uphold this democracy," Nichols said. "And I learned a lot about how the government really works and how everyday people can play a big part in how this country is run and formed."
Nichols, who is joining the U.S. Air Force Reserves with the ultimate goal of working in cybersecurity, said he had a great experience, learned a lot and made new friends during the camp that is completely led by the teens who attend. On May 10, he and fellow East Fairmont High seniors who attended last summer spoke to a group of juniors who had been referred to attend.
"For one week, it's the 51st state of the Union," Mountaineer Boys State Randall Kocsis Area Representative said. "And, for one week, those young men can run that state however they see fit within a few parameters."
Mountaineer Boys State, as well as Rhododendron Girls State mirrors West Virginia government while at the same time offering teens a chance to learn the ins and outs of various career fields ranging from journalism to corrections officer, emergency medical services, attorney and law enforcement officer. They can even work at a lemonade stand.
"We try to get every state elected official there from the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner — these high-ranking positions in state government," Kocsis said.
Nichols served the week as county commissioner for Old Kanawha County, a role he admits was both fun and challenging.
"I had to basically keep all the other boys in line and make sure no one was doing anything too shenanigan-(like)," Nichols said.
When he tells other teens about Mountaineer Boys State, Nichols said, he points out the learning experience and the leadership training.
"It's a great learning experience and you'll be put in situations where you have to kind of step out of your comfort zone and be a leader," Nichols said, "and it's a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and how you would react in different situations."
According to Nichols, college admissions counselors notice such programs as Boys State because of the leadership training aspect.
"I always say that this time in your life is the building block for the rest of your life. So you really start working on the rest of your life at this point. So learning these different leadership skills now is incredibly important because being a leader now means you'll be more productive in the future, which will put you in a lot of great positions to succeed no matter what you do," Nichols said.
Wesley Pierce, a fellow graduating senior with Nichols, also attended Mountaineer Boys State last year. He said it's the kind of experience that once you've gotten past the first two days, you don't want to leave camp after that.
"The first few days are definitely rough and boring at times, but once you to get through the first couple of days, which are really fun, and then everyone starts getting in their jobs and doing their jobs," Pierce said. "There's other jobs, not just the government stuff if you don't want to do that. So there's multiple options for different fun things you can do."
Pierce and fellow East Fairmont graduating senior Davin Brown both worked at a lemonade stand and the Boys State General Store.
Brown said after they worked their shift, they headed to the basketball courts to play ball.
Students must have a 2.75 grade point average and be recommended by a school counselor, teacher or administrator.
Anyone interested in Boys State should speak to their high school counselor. The camp begins June 16 at Jackson's Mill. Applications and more information can be found about the weeklong camp online at mountaineerboysstate.org.
West Virginia was the second state in the U.S. to obtain a Boys State charter from the American Legion, which was created the program by World War I veterans in 1935 to counter the socialism-inspired Young Pioneer Camps.
Reach Eric Cravey at 304-367-2523.
