YOUTH SPEAK OUT
Excerpts from Student Essays on Leadership
Trey wrote "Youth leadership is important in today's society because we youth have a wild imagination. And that imagination can help the world in very good ways. Also, we kids can start programs that benefit other kids, like the hungry children overseas. Or, the kids with illnesses in the hospital. Sometimes I think about cool names for programs like "kids help kids" or "kids work to save".
Brittany wrote, "Youth are very important in the community because we help to be an influence on the younger children. You also can show positive actions to their peers. Youth can help keep the community alive for many generations to come. Another significant thing of being a youth leader is to do and show positive things in our daily activities, as well as in the community, which will allow other youth to take notice and be followed by example.
You could be a great influence to your friends because everyone that you hand out with are not perfect and have been in some type of trouble, so if you guide them through a path of positive things then maybe they will not get into a lot of trouble and do more positive things. If you have a younger sister or brother then you could make sure that they don't hang out around the wrong crowd or don't get caught up into gang related or violent actions.
Another reason for being a youth leader is to help your community and make it a better place to live. A way you could do that is to pick up trash that you usually walk by. That would be a good influence, so others can follow and do the same. If you just ignore your surroundings then so will the other people observing you. You may not know it but everyone pays attention to the youth of today, even the elders. Youth leadership will guide you to be a leader and not a follower.
CJ wrote, "Leadership means to be dependable. My grandmother Mary is a wonderful leader to her Sunday morning children's group because she has to report to church every Sunday and the church depends on her being there. My mom is a great leader because she shows patience and understanding when it comes to others. My mom is consistent in the things that make her feel great. My mom believes that being a great leader also means that trusting others to trust her is a wonderful thing.
To be asked to lead others is a very big responsibility and is an honor to someone who accepts the job.
Bianca wrote, "I think youth leadership development is important in today's society because when the future comes, we need to do all we can now to stop the world from rotting away. Youth leadership development can keep it from happening. When we kids grow up we can discover new things that will get rid of diseases like cancer, asthma, etc. Not only that, but we can get people to come together and stop violence, ban smoking, drinking. Etc. after that happens, we can make programs like, "Help Save the Earth of Tomorrow, and a lot of other things too. When we put our heads together, and stop fighting each other, we may very well get along and make a difference in the world. That's why I think youth development is important in today's society."
Amber wrote, "The accomplishments of Wilma Rudolph helps me to want to achieve in life and be all I can be. She never gave up regardless of what she faced. I admire her strong determination and I apply her will to achieve in my everyday life.
I want to run track and be strong and determined as Wilma Rudolph was during her time. My goal is to make it to the Olympics as another young Black woman following the path Wilma Rudolph set up so many years ago.
Dillon wrote, I believe that youth leadership development is important because the youth of today are the future of our nation. Without youth being leaders today our country will fall apart later on. It is also important for youth to take part in what our communities are doing day by day so they can use those life experiences later on for something they might like to do. We need older people to lead us as well and to help us to become successful as we become older.
Ashley wrote, "To me, leadership means a variety of things. Websters dictionary defines leadership as "to guide one's way; to direct the operations, activity or performance of," and "a position at the front." Leadership also means the act of leading others. A leader influences people both younger and older than them. Leaders don't follow the crowd, they do their own thing. But to be a good leader, though, you must have certain traits. Here are just a few:
Patience, kindness, trustworthiness, understanding, good communication, dependability, integrity, encouragement, peace, uncritical, serious.
Don't think that you're too young to be a leader because you are a kid. Kids make some of the largest impacts on our world today. Leaders change the world.
Nareea wrote, "Youth leaders are important because they support and take on significant roles as leaders within schools, organizations, communities and more. Many people don't realize what tomorrow will bring, but I am here to tell you that I am tomorrow. What I mean about that is I am the future and being a youth leader will prepare me to be an adult leader in the future. My mother always told me to never become a follower, be a leader. In order to do that I must go to school, don't do drugs and pick my friends wisely.
Taja shared, "You don't have to be a kid to be influenced by a leader nor an adult to be one. Some kids are greater role models that some adults."
A good leader has decent integrity and patience.
Leaders will be the ones who will change our economy, government and history.
Cashmeir wrote, "Youth leadership is important because we are the leaders of the future. Leadership teaches us respect and responsibility. It teaches us how to respond in a proper way. Youth leadership is also important because it teaches us values. Being a leader helps build self-esteem. Leadership is also important because if you are a leader you can help others to become a role model. Being a leader opens your mind to things that you would not consider if you were not being positive. Leadership is a way to advance yourself so you will not be a troublemaker."
Miranda wrote, "I think that youth leadership is important because it gives youth the chance to be leaders and not followers. In some cases being a leader is how we as youth stay out of trouble because it gives us a chance to do positive things instead of negative things. I also think that youth leadership helps to build self-esteem and confidence about themselves. It shows us how to step up and be a leader without being afraid of doing the right thing.
Cherri wrote, Leadership is important in today's society. I feel that it is important because it reflects an individual's potential. If one individual's actions are good and positive, then others will follow behind to do the right thing. In today's society, we need a lot of leadership. Leadership is important because it helps an individual become a great role model.
Leadership helps you learn to get along with different kinds of people. In order to become a leader you can't be mean and disrespectful to others. Leadership gives a person a good reputation to live by through out their life.