The Washington State Youth Advisory Council is seeking applicants to join its 2025 to 2027 cohort, and a current representative from South King County would especially like to see youth from the area apply.

The council is a student-led organization that meets weekly or biweekly through Zoom to discuss what legislation they would like to support to represent youth. According to Mesrak Nega, a Thomas Jefferson High School junior who is a WSYAC member in public affairs, their big focus is preparing for the Action and Lobby Day weekend. She said during Lobby Day, they go to the Capitol and speak to legislators about what bills the group supports, and on Action Day, the group puts on a workshop for students to learn about policy, legislative strategy and more.

Nega said the deadline to apply to be a member of the WSYAC is 11:59 p.m. April 30. The only requirements to apply are to be 14 to 18 years old as of Aug. 31, 2025, and be in grades 7 through 10 at the time of application. The materials required to apply are four short essay questions with a word limit of 300 words, and a letter of recommendation.

Nega said anyone is welcome to apply. Nega said, regardless of whether they know anything about politics, people should apply. Nega said she especially would like to see people from South King County apply, as on the council, the only people from the area are her and one other student in Auburn.

Nega said the kind of person who should apply should be interested in serving their community, public service and representing the youth of Washington. She said the most important thing for applicants is to just be true to themselves.

Nega said WSYAC consists of 23 dedicated high school students who serve as the official youth advisory body to the state Legislature. She said the mission at WSYAC is to cultivate student leadership within local communities and advocate for the interests of Washington’s youth before the state Legislature. She said the WSYAC also writes legislation, supports youth organizations, surveys young people about their policy priorities, meets with government officials and staff, community leaders, and other experts.

Nega said she’s lived on the border of Federal Way and Kent her whole life, but she heavily represents Federal Way. Nega said she thinks she brings a different perspective to the table, being from South King County.

“I claim Federal Way hard. Not everyone necessarily wants to do that, but I think a big part of being on the Legislative Youth Advisory Council is really claiming where you’re from,” Nega said. “Because you represent not only where you come from, but also your age group.”

People can apply at https://walyac.org/apply.