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For the record, we are not a lost generation entirely. I stand as living proof. So this weekend, I was flipping through channels (yes I unfortunately do watch my share of idiot boxcracy) and stopped at MTV to see what current trite and self-loathing message they were peddling. For once in quite a long while, I was delightfully surprised to find them announcing the winner of the 2004 Republican National Convention & MTV's 'Choose or Lose' 'Stand Up and Holla!' (both poor attempts to title something hip and relevant) Essay Contest. It seems the Republican Party is realizing its need to do a little bit more outreach. This will always be a very good thing. But here's the even better part, the winner is none other than a black female. Well Hot Dog!

Princella Williams, whose titles include Chairman of District 4 for the Arkansas College Republicans and being the youngest member of "African-Americans for Bush", is without a doubt, my current pick for "young people doing big things". An MTV press release reports:

"The 2004 Republican National Convention and MTV's "Choose or Lose: 20 Million LOUD!" campaign today announced Princella Smith of Wynne, AR, as the winner of the "Stand Up and Holla!" essay contest. Princella was announced as the winner on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) this evening and will join Republicans from across the nation as they convene at Madison Square Garden this month to re-nominate President George W. Bush. Princella will take the stage as an official program participant and address the nation on Tuesday, August 31. Convention officials also announced that each of the top ten finalists for the contest have been invited to attend the convention. MTV's "Choose or Lose: 20 Million LOUD!" aims to get 20 million young voters, aged 18-30, to the polls in November."

Do mine eyes deceive me? I think I just may have found a reason to watch the RNC afterall. Princella is a student at Ouachita Baptist University where's she's extremely involved in her community and consistently mobilizing her peers to create change and maintain a moral standard and worldview. Contestants in the essay contest were asked to write about George W. Bush's "call to service" and how they've demonstrated it in their own communities. Out of almost 1,000 essays submitted, Princella's was chosen.

The following are a few excerpts from her essay:

"We have the privilege of uniting under a leader, President George W. Bush, who calls us to a higher purpose. Instead of Generation X, he inspires us to be what I call Generations X-ample...our generation of 18-year-old soldiers can take a stand against the horrors of terrorism in order to bring peace and democracy to those who have no hope...The president has called on our generation to move out into the world and adhere to the share of service: to volunteer in school tutoring programs through the No Child Left Behind Act; to get involved with after-school programs; to volunteer with church-sponsored events that aid the shut-ins and assist the needy; and to engage in charity..."

Now that'll preach. (Translation of Nyk vernacular: Go girl!). I am thoroughly giddy at this prospect.