Reflections from the 2027 Youth Legislature Youth Governor

By Langley Foster, 80th Youth Governor of Washington YMCA Youth and Government

In early June, I had the honor of representing Washington at the YMCA Youth Governors’ Conference in Washington, D.C. From the little events (like our inaugural morning runs) to the highlights (for me, the Congressional Baseball Game) to the food (shoutout to our hotel staff), my biggest regret was how quickly it went by.  Before I went, I spoke with several former Youth Governors, and they all said the same thing—that it would be absolutely amazing, but it would be over in a flash, so take lots of pictures and lots of notes. I’m so glad I did. 

The first full day was largely about service and sightseeing. We started with a service project at a small YMCA daycare center. This was one of my favorite experiences across all of YAG; it was so cool to meet that Y’s staff and see how even a small group’s efforts could visibly transform a space. It was so rewarding that it inspired part of what I want to do as Youth Governor—rather than a typical at-conference award, I want to create a service project-based award to incentivize delegations to get involved in their communities. We also went on a monument walk around D.C., exploring and remembering America’s history.

Day two was filled with talks and discussions from CEOs, archivists, nonprofit executives, and YMCA staff, with learning about the YMCA archives, filled with records and artifacts dating back to the 1800s, being a highlight. That evening, we saw the Capitol, heard a keynote from Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, had dinner with Youth and Government alumni, and ended with our Governor pinning ceremony. Senator Lankford’s bipartisan perspective especially made me reflect on how online content and limited real-world political interaction shape how we view political parties. 

Our third day was a quintessential D.C. experience, with a Capitol tour, museums, and the Congressional Baseball Game. Highlights included exploring the National Statuary Hall, seeing the House and historic chambers, and visiting the American History Museum, where a gubernatorial friend’s knowledge of fashion made the First Ladies’ dresses exhibit especially memorable. Despite the overwhelmingly uneven score, the Congressional baseball game was a great reminder of the sportsmanship and bipartisan spirit of the event. 

Thursday brought packing, final speakers, and tearful goodbyes before many of us unexpectedly got extra time together in D.C. due to severe storms. After hours at the airport, conversations with fellow governors, and a chance encounter with an Arizona politician, I finally made it home, exhausted but grateful for the experience.

More than anything, GovCon changed how I’ll approach the year to come. From Maine’s conference in November to our own in May, I will be so lucky to have these connections and resources to support me. GovCon pushed me out of my comfort zone: it put me in a group of 41 highly motivated people from incredibly different states and backgrounds and showed me a lot about my own personal views, especially related to political parties. It made me want to seek out people who disagree with me at my own conference, to bring them in and be able to discuss the shared values behind our differences and try to find a compromise. It also showed me how much getting together and taking small-scale action can truly impact a community. I want to bring those ideas back to Washington and prove that we don’t need age or huge, revolutionary action to make a difference—we just need a little time, a little effort, and a little willingness to try something new.