"A World Where Youth Hold the Power"

     This article, "In a World Where Youth Hold the Power," written by Adeola  A. Oredola really speaks to how our youth are our future.  Youth In Action takes into consideration how the youth feel about the community they are growing up in and how they can all work together to create positive change within their community.  The teenagers along with the adults in Youth in Action work as a cohesive team to develop programs in which youth can get involved in all aspects of their  community in regards to media, politics, organization, community health, and many others.  In this organization the youth run every aspect and have a distinct voice.  Youth in Action provides a family like atmosphere, where youth can feel comfortable giving their opinion where in other situations they might not feel as comfortable (Oredola, 47).  Youth in Action is a great way to make the youth, who are the future of our communities, feel involved and like they matter because one day they will be the ones ultimately making all the decisions.

                

     There was this age old saying when I was younger and that was, “children should be seen and not heard.” If my opinion was not asked then I would not give it and that is why I can relate to many of these youth wanting an outlet to be heard and make a difference.  As 17 year-old Marlie Chatelain stated in the article, “As a young person, if you raise a controversial issue you’re usually shut down (Oredola, 51),” which is the way I felt many times throughout my youth.  Many times a young person is told what to think without needing to do any critical thinking because someone “older” and “wiser” might have told them that one certain way of thinking is better than the other.  Youth in Action makes it okay for youths to understand that their possibilities and ways of thinking are endless.  I can definitely relate to the youths in these aspects and I just wish I knew about this program or a program like this when I was a teen.  Youth in Action helps students find their voice in a safe place where they will be heard.