For the average college student, getting involved with politics can seem pretty intimidating.
On Wednesday night, however, a group of five up-and-coming politicians &- including several former Boston University students &- insisted that young people could get elected and make serious change with a bit of hard work.
City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, Lynn City Council member Brendan Crighton, Lowell City Councilor Franky Descoteaux, First Hampden District Representative Todd Smola and At-Large Brockton City Councilor Jass Stewart joined together at Ned Devine’s Irish Pub to share their experiences as young elected government officials.
This discussion, called “New Faces of Politics in Massachusetts,” was attended by about 50 political enthusiasts.
The night began with a keynote speech from Pressley, a former BU student who talked about her time in office and her thoughts on what it means to be a young politician.
“This work is incredibly challenging, rewarding and lonely,” she said. “People don’t tell you that it’s lonely work. So it’s important that we embrace each other and affirm and support one another in this work.”
Pressley laughed when she realized that, at 36-year-old, she is considered “young” in her line of work. She realized, however, that the energy of youth is particularly important for successful politicians.
“What all good elected officials must possess &- what all leaders must possess &- is what Robert Kennedy called “the quality of youth.’ It is, and I quote, “not a time of life, but a state of mind,'” Pressley said.
After Pressley’s speech, the panel opened up a discussion moderated by Stephanie Anderson, an associate board member of MassINC, a local independent think-tank.
During the discussion, some panelists said that anyone can become successful if they follow their passions and dreams, despite what other people may say.
Smola, a Palmer Republican, recounted a time that his grandfather told him he was too young to be running for political office.
“I was completely devastated by it, and that wore on me the entire campaign, and as a result of it I worked harder,” he said.
Smola’s hard work paid off.
He remembered with pride the approval of his grandfather a couple of years later, when Smola was planning on running for a seat in state legislature.
The politicians stressed that people do not have to have a strong political background to make a difference.
Stewart, a BU alum who wrote for The Daily Free Press, said that he did not follow the traditional political route.
“I got involved because I felt like things were dysfunctional in my city. I wanted to make a difference, and I was invested,” he said. “What I heard tonight was the belief that you can make a difference, and as Ayanna said, politics is unusual, and your best experience is your life experience.”
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