HANSVILLE — The government is not a crutch that its citizenry should constantly lean on. Rather, its people are the braces that should support it.

Or as President John F. Kennedy said in his 1961 inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Aligning himself with that belief, Hansville home-schooled senior and Running Start student at Olympic College Trevor Hansen has outlined what he interprets to be the duties of the American people as issued by the Constitution of the United States of America.

His 10-minute speech entitled “Pulling Our Own Weight: Our Duties as Prescribed by the Constitution” has earned him a spot at the National Oratorical Contest April 22-23 in Indianapolis, Ind., following his victory at the Washington state competition last month.

Hansen along with 52 other representatives from around America and a few of its offshore territories will all be chasing more than $18,000 in scholarship money that will be awarded to the national champion.

“Obviously, it’s going to be a challenge,” Hansen said, noting that at the district and state levels, he competed in a combined pool of only eight people. “But I have a chance, I’m not scared. With a lot of other scholarships, you are one of millions and it’s just a lot of paper. But when you find somehow you can play to your strengths, that’s a good thing.”

Public speaking, American history and U.S. law are all passions that have been instilled in Hansen ever since he was a child. Both a Civil War history buff and a volunteer with the Bremerton Police Department, his post-graduate focus is to become a professional peacekeeper, he said.

In addition, Hansen’s plans to major in journalism — starting at Whitworth College next year — cater to the public speaking aspect of the upcoming contest.

“If we have any hope of remaining a nation that the rest of the world can respect, we need to stop expecting the government to be our nanny,” Hansen said, reiterating the theme of his oration. “It should do what individuals cannot do, not what they don’t want to.”

For the contest, participants must prepare an eight- to 10-minute speech on some aspect of the Constitution then deliver it in front of an audience and a panel of judges without notes, said Washington American Legion Area 1 Commissioner Bob Theal. Each speaker will then be brought back to the stage to give a four-minute oration on one of four assigned articles of the Constitution which will be randomly selected.

“I’ve practiced so much, it almost becomes easier when I have an audience responding and people to interact with,” Hansen said.

He has spent more than three months in preparation, reading the Constitution multiple times as well as writing each speech, reading, re-reading and then working through memorization to a point past mere recitation.

“You have to know (the speeches) well enough that you are not just reciting,” Hansen said, noting his ability to navigate his speeches while interacting with judges and the audience. “Be real, if you believe what you are speaking about there’s no reason you shouldn’t be.”

Throughout Hansen’s journey, reaching to the national competition, he has found like-minded counterparts that share his passion at the district and state levels and is looking forward to further networking at the national plane.

In his final year of eligibility for the competition, he whole heartedly recommends the program to any interested youth.

“Get involved in this competition,” Hansen said with emphasis. “It’s an awesome opportunity … and with only six contestants at state (this year), those are pretty good odds.”