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Rising Andover seniors Jared Rosen and Josh Jacobs were nominated to represent their peers and their community at the American Legion's Massachusetts Boys' State program located at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. this June.
For a week, these two students were exposed to the workings of municipal and state government alongside outstanding students from different areas of the state and varying backgrounds.
During the week, Rosen and Jacobs took advantage of the opportunities to run for local and state positions within the Boys' State mock government. They listened to Attorney General Martha Coakley, Gov. Deval Patrick, and other figures in public service speak about their experiences and give guidance.
Jacobs, an Andover High student, said he and Rosen found the program to be an eye-opening experience. Jacobs ran for his town's moderator and for the auditor of Boys' State, and Rosen was elected to be a state representative and, subsequently, by his fellow representatives, Speaker of the House of Boys' State.
"By participating in these elections, (we) learned a great deal about the electoral process and what people look for in a candidate," according to Jacobs.
"(We) found that, since (we) were surrounded by ambitious and talented people, what made a candidate stand out was the ability to relate to an audience. (We) better understand and appreciate public service after attending Boys' State."
