A new year brings a new
beginning. It marks a chance to set new
goals for the upcoming year. For some,
it’s the count down towards finishing high school, or your last semester in
college before graduating and receiving your associates, bachelors, masters or
even doctorates degree. And for others,
this new year will mean setting personal goals like getting into excellent
physical shape and spiritual health, becoming more financially stable,
traveling, or starting your own business, just to name a few.
In the year 2013, I challenge our
parents, communities, leaders, schools, youth servicing facilities and
faith-based organizations to “Take a Closer
Look at Our Youth.” Find out what
their needs are and really listen to their point of views so that we can assess
the different situations and begin laying the foundation for problem solving
some of the deep seated issues and concerns that surround our young people today.
In order to do this, we as adults
must lay aside what we perceive to be the
case and create a forum for open and honest communication between the
adults and the young people in our communities.
We will also need to ask for the input of those who are in the mist of
these ill situations and those who are being affected by these difficulties. (I.e. Taking a More Collaborative and Cooperative
Approach.)
We can’t continue on with the projected mentality of “A child being seen and not heard!” We must establish a meaningful dialogue between
the two groups, if we are going to successfully combat many of the challenges our
youth are facing today. No matter who we
are, what positions we hold or where we are in our lives, at some point we are
all directly or indirectly responsible for our young people…
Remember, they will eventually
become our leaders of tomorrow. What
more can we do today, for a better future for their tomorrow? So, “What
About Our Youth?”