Question and answer: Senator Mike Rounds

By Nadine Moore

Nadine Moore: What’s the most influential piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Mike Rounds: Don’t sell yourself short. And remember, you should leave this place better than you’ve found it. I think they both go hand-in-hand. You have to have the confidence to do the job. With that confidence, you also have an obligation to make a difference.

NM: What do you see for your future in politics?

MR: You know, I don’t really know. I’m enjoying the work that I’m doing right now.  I’ve always looked at it and said that I’m going to worry about the job that I’m doing right now and not worry about what comes after that.

NM: What benefits do you see girls receiving from attending Girls State?

MR: A chance to learn how government works and a sense of accomplishment and confidence in how to go out and ask other people to support you in the different roles that you want to do. Girls also get the chance to see how it all kind of fits together. It instills a sense of patriotism and a personal obligation to leave things better than you found them.

NM: How do you think Girls and Boys State affects the state of South Dakota?

MR: Positively. In both cases, both Boys State and Girls State allows and promotes a sense of patriotism, but also a sense of civic duty, (including) the responsibility to go vote — the responsibility to be involved in political activity. It also allows them to recognize that even though we get mad at politics, it’s still the best approach we’ve found in the world yet. If you want to make it better, you have to get involved. You can’t sit on the outside and just complain. You have to be the difference and make it better.

NM: What advice can you give to budding politicians?

MR: Don’t be afraid to step up and do your homework. Take the time to actually learn the issues. That doesn’t mean you have to have all the answers. It might be a matter of saying, “Look, I don’t know how I’d do that, but I’ll listen to a lot of different people.” The other thing I like to tell people who want to get involved with politics is don’t be a wind vane. Be a leader; step up and look at it. After you’ve listened to other people’s point-of-view, make up your mind based on what you think is right. You’d be surprised how many people are thinking that but are too afraid to say it.