When she became eligible to apply for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, Amirea Gibbs didn’t have to call the co-op to learn more. She just spoke with her older brother Bernard “A.J.” Johnson. A.J. was one of Tideland’s Youth Tour representatives five years earlier. After graduation from Mattamuskeet High School, A.J. went on to attend NC Central University and now works for Amazon. But he credits the Youth Tour with drawing him out of his shell and opening up the world to him in a whole new way.

Amirea echoed similar themes. While she had previously visited Washington, D.C., with her family, she said it was really good to be in a position where you “have to put yourself out there and make new friends.” In fact, she feels certain she formed a few lifelong friendships and stays in touch with other youth tourists from across the state through social media.

Bernard “A.J.” Johnson (left) and Ethan Braddy (right) represented Tideland during Youth Tour 2017

Amirea said in addition to enjoying museum visits and an evening cruise down the Potomac River, her favorite activity by far was the exchanging of state pins with other youth tourists from across the country. It’s a long-standing Youth Tour tradition and an excellent ice breaker to spark student conversations from every corner of the country. Amirea says she came very close to receiving pins representing 40 different states.

As for Amirea’s younger siblings, it wouldn’t surprise us at all if they too eventually apply for Youth Tour. It could very well be a new family tradition.

Amirea is the daughter of Maurice and Chanta Rickard of Fairfield. She is a junior at Mattamuskeet High School.