Following the 2010 Program, we asked students to provide us with their thoughts on their week at Boys State. Here are some of the responses:
56% were pleased when they were chosen to attend Boys State, but still had no idea what Boys State was.
82% rated their experience “better than I expected.” 5% rated it “worse than I expected.”
75% thought the educational material of Boys State was “new and interesting.” By contrast, only 3% described it as “boring and tedious.”
46% thought that the educational material was “a little more advanced” than a typical high school class. 18% thought it was “far more advanced.”
In response to the question, “Please provide us with any other thoughts or comments you have on what you experienced at Massachusetts Boys State Program.” 2010 Boys Staters told us:
Eye-opening and educational experience
It was a great experience and i met a lot of kids that i got along with and it made me confident in that i could go into a place knowing no one and make new friends and have a good time
My week at Boys State is a chapter of my life that I will always remember. My time there was like an alternate life that I will never get back, though the experience I would think somewhat simulates college life. It was the first time I became friends with kids from other towns, and I will try to keep in touch with them. I was sad when I had to leave my new friends behind, but I was glad that that week will always be embedded in my memory.
I had one of the greatest weeks of my life. It was a leadership and friendship builder, and I had an amazing time. My only regret was that people would know me and start a conversation I didn’t know them. This was later in the week, so I should have known them, but there were a lot of us.
I was reluctant to attend boys state at first and thought that boys state would not have any affect on me at the end of the week. I was completely wrong. The friends I have made during the week and the valuable experience I had makes me truly grateful for the time I spent at boys state. I received a good understanding of what college will be like and learned many leadership skills. I can’t say enough good things about boys state and will definitely recommend it to anyone.
I thought it was a great week, and far better than I expected it to be. I was able to learn a lot of things about government that I didn’t know. I also learned a lot from my counselors that didn’t necessarily go along with along with what we were learning, but I considered valuable, nonetheless. I also enjoyed listening to the American Legion members talk.
It was a GREAT program; keep up the good work. The girls and boys state, again, should be more mixed and less segregated.
I’m thoroughly surprised and pleased that politically, the American Legion, and the Boys’ State program are mixed, the whole thing worked well.
I learned so much about myself, and public service, i want to attend Law School as a result, and i’d like to return to Boys State 2011 to be a counselor.
i loved the program but i think it needs to push everyone to get up and speak in front of a crowd because i know that was my biggest fear and boys state helped me overcome that.
Thanks to all the staff for creating an experience in which I will never forget.
I loved it. I met new friends and learned many new and exciting elements about politics along the way.
It was incredible, I hope that I can come back as a counselor next year. It turned out to be so much more meaningful and formative than I expected, and I couldn’t have had a better experience.
I think it was an amazing eye opening event that opened my eyes to the real life problems of government
I had a fantastic time. I wish it could have been all summer long. I really want to come back. Thank you for everything.
It was the most amazing week of my life
It was one of the best weeks of my life. The speakers were also pretty awesome.
It was one of the most interesting, thought-provoking, motivating, and overall enjoyable programs I have ever attended. I know that the lessons as well as skills that I learned at Boys State will stay with me as I push ahead into my future and whatever career may lay ahead of me.
It was an invaluable experience for me, something that will serve as more than just a great memory when I look back on it in the years ahead of me. The creators and leaders of Boys State should be applauded for their hard work and dedication in the creation of this life-changing program.
I think it is a great program, I am changed now I feel so much more patriotic and I am determined to change the world we live in.
The dorm life was so fun. The basketball games and people were great.
Greatest experience I have had in my life so far.
It was an interesting week. Although it certainly was not “the best week of my life” and I did not “meet people I will be friends with forever,” I had a good time and learned a few things about how politics work on multiple levels. Though I probably will not become a governor, senator, mayor, or any such thing, I feel that I have learned what it takes to be a leader, and am more confident in myself.
It was an amazing experience.
making all the friends experiences on the campus that will last forever.
It was a valuable lesson in the importance and accessibility of government.
I thought that it helped me grow as a person and as a student looking towards college
I experienced one of the best weeks of my life and met friends that I will never forget.
Great Program, would go again if I could in a heartbeat and T-1 was deff the best town/city
I’ll tell you what my guidance counselor said when we discussed this and she went through the blue book. She said that there was obviously a lot of work put in to the curriculum and it was very advance and colleges know that.
The campus was great, and it was nice to have three big meals a day. Also, it felt good to forget about other stuff going on in my life to spend a week and learn totally new things.
It is a terrific program, and has inspired and taught me a great deal
An amazing and enlightening Learn by doing experience
I really liked it! I hope I didn’t seem to critical in my evaluation.
It was awesome! Thank you so much!