At Arizona civics camp, Hobbs urges young students to take initiative, seek mentors

PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs advised students visiting Arizona from around the country to seek out mentors and grasp opportunities as they come along.

“Don’t wait until somebody tells you that it’s your turn, because I think a lot of young people hear that all the time,” she said Tuesday to a group of more than a hundred future leaders who are spending the week learning how state government works. “Sometimes you have to not wait for permission and just go for what you want to do.”

Tuesday was Day 2 of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy’s Camp O’Connor, named for the Arizona jurist who became the first female Supreme Court justice.

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The five-day program gives students heading into eighth and ninth grades across the country a chance to learn about each branch of government and how democracy remains at the forefront of political life.

Tuesday’s session was dedicated to the executive branch, and students had the opportunity to ask Hobbs questions.

She offered advice about how to be an impactful member of both government and society at large.

Hobbs said it’s important for young people to seek guidance from those in career fields they might be interested in pursuing.

Most students attending the camp attend Title I schools, which are eligible for federal funding due to high proportions of low-income students.

Georgia Cashman from Milwaukee was spending the final week of seventh grade at Shorewood Intermediate School at Camp O’Connor and said she was incredibly excited to have the opportunity.

“It was very surreal coming to a camp where I can learn about civics with so many different people,” Cashman said.

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Cashman called the camp an amazing experience.

She and other students from 36 states heard from Hobbs about various aspects of daily life in politics.

At a press conference-style event, students asked the Democratic governor about her duties and responsibilities to the people of Arizona. Hobbs discussed obstacles she has confronted since taking office in January 2023.

“You hear a lot about the controversial things, but most of what we do is not controversial, and there’s a lot of opportunity to work together,” she said.

Hobbs referred to ongoing state budget talks with the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Politics can often “get in the way,” she said, but frustrations are part of the process.

“It’s very different from a classroom experience,” said one aspiring politician taking part in Camp O’Connor, Taylor Lee, who attends the Classical Academy Middle School in Escondido, California.

“We get to go outside into the real world, and we get firsthand experience which you can’t get in the classroom, so you get to learn a lot more about your interests while being around like-minded people,” said Lee, who hopes to one day join the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the military’s legal branch.

The students met with Arizona Supreme Court Justice William Montgomery Monday. The schedule on Wednesday includes State House Speaker Steve Montenegro, R-Goodyear.

The camp is now in its seventh year, and according to Capitol staff, this year’s attendance is the biggest yet.

Hobbs left the students with a few parting words of wisdom as the second day of camp came to a close.

“Get involved, figure out what you want to do and just go do it,” she said.

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