Tuscaloosa Academy student and Chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council Brilyn Hollyhand began his “Get Off the Sidelines” college campus tour on Sept. 24 at The University of Alabama.
The high school senior shared his conservative message with students and encouraged them to be active participants in politics.
Hollyhand partnered with Turning Point USA, a conservative, non-profit organization that encourages students to “promote freedom” across more than 3,500 college campuses.
The tour combines Hollyhand’s message of performing one’s civic duty with the message from his book, “One Generation Away,” which encourages younger Americans to become politically active by having effective conversations with one another.
In an email, Hollyhand wrote that he is excited to encourage his generation to “get off the sidelines” and enter the political fight by helping them register to vote and hit the polls next month. He wrote that he wants to encourage his peers to be bold by speaking their conservative political beliefs.
“The direction the country is heading is not one that will be good for my generation to grow up in — both sides agree on that,” Hollyhand said. “It’s up to Gen Z to change it!”
Hollyhand said that speaking in a packed lecture hall at the University meant the world to him. He said students stayed after the lecture for 45 minutes asking questions before his autograph session began.
“They missed classes, homework and parties to sit behind a desk and listen to my plan to get involved and change our future,” Hollyhand said.
Carter Ashcraft, a senior majoring in political science, said he is a personal friend of Hollyhand. He said he thought the tour’s message was important for younger voters.
“It’s really refreshing to hear someone around our same age or even younger … give us that encouragement to get involved,” Ashcraft said.
Ashcraft said he was already planning to vote for former President Donald Trump before hearing Hollyhand’s speech; however, he said the tour made him more excited for the upcoming election.
“It’s definitely just emboldened me to speak out about it and to not be shy when stuff like that gets brought up,” Ashcraft said.
As a first-time voter this November, Hollyhand wrote that he is encouraging his peers to “put down the bullhorns” and stop protesting so that effective conversations can take place on both sides of the aisle that will lead to change. He said he doesn’t want anyone to wake up the day after Election Day with regret that they should’ve voted.
“You want to wake up knowing you left it all on the field,” Hollyhand said. “The time to get involved was yesterday.”
