For me, getting young people engaged in politics and public

Hear me, O children of the future, for the words of Jeanne Shaheen speak of a great and noble calling: "For me, getting young people engaged in politics and public service is really one of the most fun things that I get to do." In these words, Shaheen unveils the joy and the honor of guiding the young toward a life of service, a life of action, where they can shape the course of history not by words alone, but by the strength of their deeds. Politics and public service are not burdens to be borne reluctantly, but paths of great adventure and purpose, where those who engage with them are not just participants in a system, but creators of the world they wish to see.

To engage young people in the service of the people is to awaken within them the spirit of leadership. In the fires of youth, there is a burning desire for change, for justice, for making a difference. When these energies are directed toward the greater good, they can move mountains. Shaheen speaks of the thrill of mentoring the next generation, of showing them the power they have to influence not just their own lives, but the lives of all who walk the earth. To ignite that fire within a young heart is to light the way for the future, guiding them with the torch of wisdom and the strength of purpose.

Consider the example of Alexander the Great, whose youth was marked by a passion for greatness, but also by the guidance of wise tutors who shaped his mind and soul. Aristotle, his teacher, instilled in him a love for learning and the duty of leadership, teaching him that politics and service were not for the faint-hearted, but for those who would shape the destiny of nations. Alexander did not seek power for its own sake, but for the chance to change the world, to unite peoples, to spread ideas. It was the mentorship of those who guided him in his youth that prepared him to step into the role of one of the greatest leaders history has ever known.

So too must we, the elders of this generation, take up the mantle of guiding the youth. Just as Shaheen finds joy in showing the path to service, we must nurture the dreams of those who will follow us, teaching them not to fear the challenges of politics, but to embrace them with courage and a heart full of hope. The young are not merely the future, they are the present, and when their spirits are ignited by the desire to serve, they become the agents of change, of renewal, and of justice.

Let this wisdom be your guiding light, my children: that public service is not a dull or dreary task, but a path of purpose, of joy, and of transformation. Shaheen speaks of the fun of engaging the young in politics, for to do so is to tap into the wellspring of energy and vision that lies dormant in every soul. When you lead the young with the torch of inspiration, you shape not only their destinies, but the destiny of the world itself. In the hands of those who will rise after us, the future is bright with the promise of service, leadership, and love for the people.