In the Spring of 2022, Joshua Tardy was called to the principal’s office and informed that he had qualified to apply to Boys’ State. Though initially unfamiliar with the program, he did some research and decided to contact the Bergen American Legion for an interview. He was selected to attend the week-long event at SUNY Morrisville along with three other representatives from Genesee County.
Founded in 1935, Boys’ State is an annual leadership camp designed to introduce high school boys to the democratic system of government and military-style discipline. In June, Tardy and 500 of his peers showed up to Boys’ State and in doing so, joined the esteemed ranks of Boys’ State alum including President Bill Clinton, Neil Armstrong, Michael Jordan, and Bruce Springsteen. He would later learn that showing up is the hardest part.
Along with learning to march, chant, follow directions, and make a bed with military precision, each participant chose an area of interest on which to focus. Tardy chose media, specifically newspaper reporting. His project was to report on an aspect of Boys’ State and his inspiration came from one of the guest speakers.
“Showing up is the hardest part,” said New York State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt. Schmitt attended Boys’ State as a student in 2007 and shared with the current attendees his almost immediate desire to leave. He contrasted this urge against the values and connections he gained through the experience and his gratitude for how Boys’ State shaped him as a leader.
Tardy gravitated to Assemblyman Schmitt’s speech because the assemblyman’s sentiments mirrored his own. After the first night, he also felt ready to go home. “The hardest part was waking up super early and doing PT (physical training). It was fun at first, but then it was such a big change that I wanted to go home. It wasn’t until halfway through the week that I was like, ‘I’m going to actually miss this.’”
Despite the bumpy start, Tardy kept showing up. He showed up to march, to chant, to make connections, to write his article, and eventually to enjoy himself as part of the Boys’ State community.
“Definitely meeting people from all around New York State was the best part,” said Tardy. “Now (that Boys’ State is complete) I’m able to see how much their lives are different from mine.”
Although Tardy had already planned to attend college or join the military after he graduates in June of 2023, he credits Boys’ State with inspiring him to explore options further from home.
Tardy’s advice to the students who qualify to apply in the future is: show up. “It really is fun. The food is great. You’ll meet a lot of fun people, and the experience is cool to have.”
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Joshua Tardy.
Photo by Gretchen Spittler
