Gracie Cooper’s TeenPact Transformation

Gracie Cooper vividly recalls her first TeenPact Four Day State Class. “I was terrified,” she admits, laughing at the memory. “I was really shy. I remember my first mock bill was about raw milk, and I was so nervous to talk about it. TeenPact’s CEO at the time, Mr. Peter Martin, asked me questions to encourage me, but I was super shy—not outgoing at all.”

Karlyn, present at Gracie’s first TeenPact experience, recalls, “You were polite but very, very quiet. You stuck close to your mom and didn’t engage much. I remember thinking, ‘She’s definitely not getting in the well to talk about her bill.’”

Despite her nerves, Gracie was intrigued. “I was interested in learning but intimidated by being in a room full of people I didn’t know. I was especially nervous talking about politics, which I knew nothing about. It was a whole new political world.” 

Yet, stepping into that unfamiliar territory planted a seed. “TeenPact pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Gracie reflects. 

Growing in Confidence and Leadership

After attending TeenPact for two years as a student, Gracie knew she wanted to give back. “I was excited to become a Staffer for TeenPact Nevada,” she shares. “It was fantastic and uplifting to share the passion that had grown in me because I really believe in TeenPact’s motto—Changing Lives to Change the World. TeenPact truly did change my life.”

Leading small groups, Gracie saw firsthand how impactful TeenPact could be. “My experience as a first-time student gave me a heart for the really shy girls who were just as nervous as I had been. It was incredible to connect with the girls in my small group and watch them grow in confidence, just like I had.”

A Path of Unexpected Opportunities

After staffing, Gracie aged out of the TeenPact program and began college with plans to pursue a vet tech degree. “I switched majors a few times—from vet tech to political science to HR,” she explains. She earned her associate’s degree before moving to Georgia and beginning classes at UT Chattanooga.

That’s when an unexpected opportunity arose. “My mom told me about a job opening in Montana as a Legislative Aide. At first, I thought, ‘That’s so far away and very cold. Do I really want to do this?’ But then I remembered all the times TeenPact taught me to push out of my comfort zone.”

Gracie applied and got the job, putting her education on hold temporarily to work in the Montana State Legislature. “I found out later that my boss chose me because he saw I was from TeenPact,” she shares. 

Stepping into the Legislative Work in Montana

Gracie’s first legislative job in Montana was a steep learning curve. “It was a lot to learn,” she recalls. “A lot of what we did was writing letters to the editor and floor speeches for our representatives. We’d read bills, understand what the bill was doing, and explain it intelligently so the representative knew what it was about. For hot-topic bills, we helped prepare speeches with complex talking points—making sure we had the whole caucus on board. It was awesome!”

In Montana, the legislative session lasts about 90 days before sine die. After four months of challenging legislative work, Gracie returned to Tennessee—but she left her car in Montana, knowing she wanted to go back.

Returning to Montana: Navigating New Roles and Responsibilities

At home, Gracie continued to pursue job opportunities back in Montana. Her persistence paid off when she secured a position as an Administrative Assistant for the Republican Party of Montana. “This got me back to Montana,” she shares. “At first, it was organizing, emailing, and administrative work. But then I approached my boss and said, ‘I’m studying Human Resources. What can I do that’s HR-related?’ She said, ‘It’s campaign season, so you’re in luck.’”

That initiative opened new doors. Gracie began doing onboarding paperwork, managing employee information, and even answering policy questions about candidates and judges. “It was an incredible  experience,” she says. “I also helped organize a lot of conventions we had. Making connections is how I got to where I am.”

After almost two years, Gracie’s hard work did not go unnoticed. When her previous boss with the Montana House of Representatives approached her about a new role, Gracie jumped at the chance. “She asked me to write up what I wanted to do. I was honest—I told her I was willing to do whatever she thought I was suited for. That’s how I became Deputy Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the House in Montana.”

Supporting Montana’s State Legislature: A New Leadership Role

In her role as Deputy Chief of Staff, Gracie’s responsibilities expanded rapidly. “Prior to the session starting, I did a lot of searching for applicants, hiring, and onboarding. I even trained three legislative aides, the position I had when I first came to Montana” she explains. “When the session officially started, I modeled what my boss did and divided our caucus members among these three new employees, training them on their roles.”

Once her team was up and running, Gracie focused on strategic tasks like tracking bills, ensuring votes were aligned with the caucus’s stance, and developing a stronger social media presence. “I highlight bills that would be interesting to our constituents in Montana. I’ll pull Legislative members aside and say, ‘Hey, let’s film a quick video!’ or ‘Can I get a statement from you about this bill?’” She also produces, edits, and publishes those videos on social media. “I’m like a Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Communications Director all at once,” she laughs.

At just 22 years old, Gracie manages a team, strategizes bill tracking, and leads social media communications. “Four people work under me, and I get to highlight bills that matter to our constituents. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

Reflecting on TeenPact’s Impact

Through each step of her journey, Gracie recognizes how TeenPact equipped her with the confidence and leadership skills she uses daily. “TeenPact pushed me beyond my comfort zone and taught me to lead with purpose,” she shares. “I never imagined working in politics, let alone serving in a leadership role—but TeenPact prepared me for it all.”

Now, as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the House in Montana, Gracie continues to live out TeenPact’s mission of raising up Christ-centered leaders. Looking ahead, she hopes to complete her HR degree and possibly run for office one day. But no matter where God leads, she knows the lessons she learned at TeenPact will continue to shape her future.

Gracie’s story is a powerful reminder that stepping out in faith can lead to extraordinary opportunities. And it all started with one shy student, a mock bill about raw milk, and a willingness to trust God’s plan.

Thank you for partnering with TeenPact to impact young people like Gracie to seek Christ and the purposes He has for their lives!