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Our youth deserves better leadership opportunities and guidance
10-22-2014
Youth leadership is the practice of young people exercising authority over themselves or others. During adolescence, young people experience profound physical changes, rapid growth and development, and sexual maturation, in addition to psychological and social changes. These changes often lead to issues with personal identity and emotional independence. Adolescents may engage in behaviors considered to be experimental and risky. Due to the changes during these years, several important public health and social problems either begin or peak during these years including suicide, substance use and abuse, sexually transmitted infections, and teen and unplanned pregnancies. Many people portray adolescents as inevitable problems that just need to be “straightened out” before they can do too much harm.
We are severely lacking programs aimed at understanding, educating and engaging young minds in productive activities. Currently, the focus seems to be on correcting, curing or treating them for so-called disabilities; such as, learning disabilities, antisocial conduct, low motivation and academic achievement, alcohol or drug use, smoking, psycho-social crisis triggered by puberty and risks of neglect.
When elected as a Surrey School Trustee, my focus will be on working closely with our professionals and staff in Surrey schools to ensure that our students get timely guidance and leadership opportunities they deserve to overcome challenges they are facing in this crucial phase of their lives. I will donate at least 20% of my salary as a School Trustee toward such programs.
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