FLEMING ISLAND – When Gov. Ron DeSantis picked Taylor White for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group as a Senior Advisor, the junior from Fleming Island became the youngest in state history to earn the appointment.

Just 17, White will be serving on the State Advisory Group as an expert on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Policy.

In his spare time, he swims the 50- and 100-meter freestyle for the Golden Eagles. He also is the Chairman and Senior Advisor to Superintendent David Broskie to Clay County District Schools.

Then there’s his role as the only student advisor and member of the Foundation Board of Directors for the Florida High School Athletic Association, which oversees all high school interscholastic athletics in Florida.

Oh yes, he also works with Clay County Commission Vice Chairman John Sgromolo.

And you can’t overlook his role as a high school advisor with the University of North Florida College of Education as he helps advise better ways for high school students to transition to post-secondary institutions.

He’s simultaneously taking college and high school classes – all while taking eight advanced high school classes, not the customary workload of six.

“He’s the President of the Superintendent Student Advisory Council,” Broskie said. “Taylor's been in, I think in his fourth or fifth year on the council. I know Taylor well. He’s a hard-working kid, dedicated to our community. He’s going to be a fine representative. He always stays busy; there's no doubt about that.”

As the youngest appointment to the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group, White is part of a group that is responsible for $2.5 million in federal funds that they use to advise the Secretary on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention policies and serve as subject matter experts in certain fields.

“There's individuals from the Department of Education, nonprofit organizations, the state attorney's offices and then different organizations that work with juvenile justice, high risk youth or anything around the industry,” Taylor said. “We meet quarterly and dates determined by our chair and the staff.”

Taylor’s parents work with the Departments of Transportation and Defense. Taylor was surrounded by law enforcement, and it was only natural for him to follow in his parents’ footsteps.

He worked with criminal defense attorneys, which helped him connect with the Deputy Secretary of the Department.

"She shared my contact information with internal members, and then I was called, asking if I would be willing to serve on this commission because they wanted to get a perspective from a teen.

“I am called to public service, so working for the justice department or anything that touches being able to help people is something I want to do ad litem, something like that,” Taylor said. “I'm looking towards being a federal prosecutor right now. But it's all great. Not a lot of people have these kinds of opportunities, so when they present themselves, I'd be remiss if I didn't do my best to help you.”

He said living in Clay County affords him greater opportunities than other areas.

“Clay County is a special place,” he said. “Even though we're small town or county, it's called ‘Small Towns with Great Passions.’ I mean, Clay County produces some of the top athletes in every sport, and we only have seven high schools.

“I look at it as giving back to the system that makes me who I am and who I will continue to be.”

White admits there’s a price for being stretched in so many different directions because there’s only so many hours and he's divided among so many projects.

“You will have to neglect people and certain comments,” he said. “You will have to work overnight and long hours. There will be years of work and progress that no one is going to see. You will pay the price of discipline, or you will pay the price of regret. The price of progress is painful. Most people do not want to experience pain. They like comfort. If you want progress, you must be willing to experience pain in the process so that you may achieve your goal. The question you must ask yourself is what you are willing to do to win?”

White has already proven he’s willing to do whatever is necessary, and more, to make himself, and Clay County, better.