Are you qualified to vote for president?

Academic Decathlon = These might be the smartest kids in High School in the nation.
I’m not sure if that is the official title, but it sure seems like that is what they are in it for. To compete at being smart.  

Last weekend in the spirit of service I volunteered to be a judge for the Hawaii State ACADEC prepared speech, impromptu speech and mock interview categories. 3 of the 10 tests that these kids do – hence the word, decathlon.  

Now let me back up 24 hours:
Before I had the privilege of “judging” these kids, I had someone show me a video of high school and college students being asked 2 questions. Questions were given on the spot with no advanced prep.

The questions were:
What year was the civil war?
Who won?

Do you know the answer to those questions? Do you know it right off the top of your head? Remember, these students were on national TV, which would increase the anxiety factor. Do you know the answer yet? 

When was the Civil war? And who won?

The vast majority of students in the video didn’t know the answer and those who did – kind of did…but they didn’t articulate it very well. It was suggested that kids like this weren’t qualified to determine who the next leader of our free world ought to be. I mean come on…if you don’t know who won the Civil War, how could your vote for president count? These kids showed me that it does count.  

Back at the competition, 24 hours later I had that video on my mind as I went to “judge” the kids in the state of Hawaii who compete at being smart.  

Here is what they taught me:

• I learned that stage 3 breast cancer can cause depression, and when a sophomore girl sees that in her mom it changes the whole world.
• I learned that there is a song that she and her mom listen to – that will exist between them even when her mom is no longer here.
• I learned that being autistic and getting bullied is certainly an award winning speech topic. It’s backed up by being calm, focused and BRAVE.
• I learn that when you grow up in the countryside, away from the hotels on Maui, you learn a lot about how your life exists with your landscape and that fireweed can teach you a lot about life.
• I learned that being born in Hawaii offers more opportunity than staying in the Marshall Islands and sometimes that comes with having adult responsibilities at age 5.
• I learned that the classroom, and the Academic decathlon program can be a refuge for a kid who is in foster care at age 17 because his Dad attempted to murder his Mom.
• I learned that saying the “canned”, what they want to hear statements still sounds empty, even when it has all the right words.
• I was reminded that growing up in this day and age isn’t for the weak of heart.
• I was reminded of the heart and brain connection that being a teenager is fueled on hourly.
• I was reminded of the nerves, the sweat, the acne and the awkward that makes that phase of life tremendously tremendous.
• I was reminded that we are all connected and live together with stories that connect, separate, run parallel and sometimes crash into each other.

My favorite part of the event was when Mary (Mary is her English name, she looks nothing like a Mary) got asked the following question:

If you could create an app what would it be?

Mary’s answer was simple.

It would be like Facebook.

There would be a column if you liked something, a column if you didn’t like something. Then she proposed a special column where people would work together to find a SOLUTION to the issue.

It seems so simple.

When I look at the way our government is running right now and whose votes have gotten us here…it seems like this app that Mary has invented is an important concept. In a season when our hired representatives fight, stonewall, blame, cut down and EMBARRASS our entire political process…it seems like Mary is on to something.  

A special column where people come together to get the issued solved. I want to make sure her vote for president counts.  

The Hawaiii State ACADEC teams were inspiring. Not in that conquer the world and charge kind of way. More in the awkward, good ideas, passion and nervous way. The FRESH EYES, the BEATING HEARTS of this group today made me CERTAIN that their vote for president is just as legitimate as mine, just as legitimate as yours.

Not all of Mary’s friends know the years of the civil war (I asked on break). Some do. But if you are worried about your mom dying of cancer, it seems okay if you don’t have that answer on the spot. Other things are more important right now.  

Her vote for president still counts. Her family’s counts, her friends who are headed off to conservative colleges, and in liberal colleges. All the votes count. I think that is what democracy is, right? When every vote counts.

I am voting this election season. Despite being embarrassed and saddened by so much of what has happened. I am going to vote, Mary will vote, her friends will vote, and I hope that you will vote too. I know it’s the best way to make it better.  

The smartest kids in Hawaii taught me so much today. I wasn’t a judge for them…who am I to judge them? They have taught me. I was lucky enough to bear witness to their stories, their hearts, their brains, and their nervous awkwardness that makes being human all a part of the plan.

Thanks Hawaii Academic Decathlon Team.

Keep doing your work.
It’s inspiring.
Make sure all your friends vote for who they think should be president because your heart, your brain and your help is so necessary in this time.

MAHALO. MAHALO. MAHALO.

For more info on these special students check out:
www.usad.org

For more info on the author check out:
Coconutwirelesslife.com