Contact: Allison Matthews
Photo by: Megan Bean
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Looking out over his audience at Mississippi State Tuesday [May 28], state Rep. George Flaggs Jr. of Vicksburg told more than 380 Boys State participants he felt Mississippi's future is in good hands.
"All of you, every one of you, represent our future," the District 55 legislator added as he advised the rising high school seniors of several characteristics he believes are keys to his success.
The university is serving through 2015 as host campus for the Mississippi American Legion Boys State. Considered the nation's premier program for teaching how government works while developing leadership skills and appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, the campus session began Saturday [the 25th] and concludes at the end of the week.
Flaggs shared five "B's" of his own success that may help others achieve their goals, as well. They include beliefs in God and yourself, and to be good, strong and determined.
As he encouraged the young men to be strong, he stressed that he wasn't talking about physical strength. Instead, he urged them to stand strong against peer pressure, drugs, alcohol and other things that are wrong.
"If you sow a bad seed, you're going to reap a bad seed," he said. For every bad decision there is a consequence, but good decisions bring benefits, he observed.
"You can be any engineer, any doctor, anything, if you're determined," he continued. "I believe your attitude determines your aptitude. For those of you that face defeat, compete anyway."
"Nobody gets to the top without starting from the bottom," Flaggs, a Warren County youth court counselor, reminded the crowd.
A 26-year House of Representatives member, Flaggs recently announced his retirement to seek--and win--the Democratic Party primary in Vicksburg's mayoral race. He faces independent Darryl Hollingsworth in the June 4 general election.
In the House, he has been chair of the Corrections Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Banking and Financial Services, Constitution, Legislative Budget, and Rules committees, among others.
Past chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, he is a graduate of Jackson State University and Hinds Community College. Additionally, he is a former member of Vicksburg's Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.
He is affiliated with the Wisemen, Toastmasters and Optimist clubs, and is a member of the Board of Deacons at Mount Heroden Church.
For more information about Boys State, visit www.msboysstate.com. For more information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu.