On Monday Dec. 2, Cypress Lake High School was abuzz with excitement as U.S Representative Byron Donalds made a special visit to the Media Center for Mrs. Brittany Camp’s AP US Government classes. The congressman, known for his approachable demeanor and passion for civic engagement, spent several periods meeting with students, sharing his insights about his role, and answering questions about government and public service.
Representative Donalds began by introducing himself and explaining his responsibilities as a U.S. Representative. He described how his career in finance during the 2008 housing crisis inspired him to run for Congress and gave examples of legislation he’s worked on. All of Mrs. Camp’s students, eager to learn, came prepared with questions.
When asked what first interested him in politics, he answered very honestly. “I wasn’t in AP Government. I was never interested in any of that. I cared about girls and cars and money,” he admitted, “but as I got older, I realized how important it was to have people in government who know what is at stake.” Throughout the day, the congressman emphasized the importance of being informed about the world. Representative Donalds also made it very clear how much the generation counted.
Mrs. Camp expressed her excitement about the visit, saying “We spent a whole unit learning about Congress, but it makes all the difference to hear from someone who is actually doing it day in and day out.”
DJ Martin said of the congressman that he was “very upfront about his ideologies and opinions which I appreciated, however, he had an sincere yet odd way of attempting to connect to America’s youth.”
Another student, Katie Ireland, was less impressed, praising him as “a very good public speaker despite having very little to say aside from harping on about his own greatness.”
Joey Dube-Garrett (shown right) was excited to meet Congressman Donalds, introducing himself after the speech concluded and describing Donalds the next day as “a great American politician with understanding and dedication.” Anthony Martinez echoed that sentiment, calling him a “hero” for his service.
The visit ended with a group photo in the media center and a round of applause from the students, many of whom left feeling inspired and more engaged in the world of politics and public service, with a sense of possibility and the motivation to get involved.
