With a passion for politics and helping others, senior Anika Prabakar is shaping the next generation of government leaders through the YMCA Youth and Government.
YMCA Youth and Government allows students to run a mock state government. As co-president of the club and Speaker of the House, Prabakar creates a place where students can debate real-life situations and learn about government procedures.
“I hope to be somebody that people can…come to if they have questions or facilitate a space in which everyone wants to debate, regardless of their opinions,” said Prabakar. As Speaker of the House, Prabakar is a mediator for debate among the students.
Before settling on pursuing law, Prabakar wanted to be a veterinarian, but found a way to do both worlds. “I wanted to figure out how I could combine my passion for animals with something else,” said Prabakar. Striving to help others, Prabakar created a program where animals from shelters can go through a three-month training process to be service animals for students in foster care.
Now, Prabakar is breaking down new walls and empowering students to speak their opinions. Her goal is to make sure all students from all demographics can be heard in government.
While the club is to inform students of how bills work, debate procedures, and government roles, the Youth and Government conference applies those skills as they debate real-world issues.
“That made me realize there’s so much that we as a society have problems with, but I think having a space for people to voice what they’re passionate about…will make you feel more inclined to go out and vote when you’re older and participate in city councils,” said Prabakar.
