Michael Negron climbed the big stage Monday night at the Democratic National Convention and delivered a message from the young people of America.

Negron, the winner of the MTV/DNC Speak Out for the Future contest, was selected to represent the "20 Million Loud" young voters ages 18-24 before the gathered delegates and news media (see [article id="1489519"]"Law Student Earns Prime-Time Voice At Democratic Convention"[/article]).

The speech capped off a whirlwind day for the 24-year-old law student.

He was up at 5 a.m. to make sure everything was ironed and his tie was on straight. At 7 a.m., a waiting car took Negron and his small entourage to a breakfast for the delegation from his home state of Tennessee. There Negron met and hobnobbed with Congressman Harold Ford before giving a quick speech to the gathered delegates about the importance of the youth vote.

After breakfast, he headed to Boston's Fleet Center to begin hours of practice runs, soundchecks and more hobnobbing. Through the course of the day, Negron ran into Chris Heinz (stepson of John Kerry), former Democratic contender Dick Gephardt -- who gave his stamp of approval to Negron's remarks -- and Blink-182 singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge, who jokingly reminded Negron that the four-day party was not about him, it was all about Kerry.

But the joking was over as Negron ascended the massive convention stage and delivered his remarks with what looked like unnatural poise. "Sitting back there, I decided not to be scared," Negron said later. "They said you should plant one foot in front of the other, but I was like, 'Whatever.' "

The speech addressed several issues, from America's image abroad to the misperception of young people as apathetic. Many of the issues raised in Negron's speech were also raised in a new survey of first-time voters released Tuesday by Pace University and Rock the Vote. According to the survey, the top three issues for first-time voters are terrorism, jobs and healthcare.

To read Negron's winning essay, as well as the essays of the other finalists, click here. And to vote for who will represent young people at the Republican National Convention, click here.