I've been an educator for over 20 years. Recently I had the opportunity to see one of my former students, who is now himself an educator, at the Way Up Youth Leadership Camp. He was a staff member for Sacramento Unified School District. He told me "thank you for always encouraging me...you always supported my dreams." The goals that this young man set for himself were supported by all he knew, family, friends, teachers, counselors. We all stood by him and encouraged him to set and reach his goals. I beamed with pride to watch him interact with the young people who were in his care. For me he was the example of what happens when a young person is nurtured and supported by his or her community.
Having goals and dreams, a hope for the future, are not
always nurtured by one’s family, friends, and teachers. Sometimes, the spark that ignites a young
person’s dreams has to come from an outside entity. This year I had the opportunity to see
first-hand how adults working in partnership with young people can work to
influence the life of a young person. On
July 30th over 350 young people from the Sacramento City Unified
School District descended on California State University, Sacramento to attend
the Way Up Leadership Camp. For some of
these young people the camp represented the first time they walked on a college
campus. For these young people, staying
in the dorms and eating in the campus commons was an un-thought-of adventure because
the concept of attending college was foreign. Yet there were others who, like my former student, had aspirations and visions for their future. The camp simply confirmed
where they envisioned themselves in a few short years.
It would be easy to focus on the bright-eyed, smiley-faced, respectful,
and ready to go young people. Their excitement and enthusiasm for life and learning was contagious. However, my attention was diverted to the
young woman who looked angry, who seemed to have a protective fence around her that
read “enter at your own peril.” She
reluctantly participated in activities.
Her vocabulary was peppered with colorful phrases. She was often a disruption. In the back of my mind these thoughts kept creeping
in, “Why is she here? Send her home. Things
would be easier without her.” I tried to push these thoughts away, but I
couldn’t help it…until I talked to her.
As she was fuming about being “dress-code violated,” I approached her
and her friend, both of whom seemingly oozed negativity. This was our conversation that occurred in a matter-fact-tone as we walked to the next workshop:
Me: How’s that working out for you?
Student: What?
Me: Being angry all the time. If you don’t like being here, why are you here?
Student: I came here because of the college
experience. I came to camp last year,
and I wanted to have the experience again.
Me: So... would it hurt to
at least try?
Student: My foster-mom doesn’t think I’m going to be
anything. My teachers don’t think I’m
going to be anything. Everyone I know
thinks I’m going to end up dead, pregnant, or in jail. I gotta protect me…It hurts when everyone is
against you.
Her last words stopped me, and they have stayed with me… “it
hurts when everyone is against you…” After
that conversation I spent more time learning about the person. Beneath the
anger was a scared young woman who desired attention and acceptance. Her favorite part of camp was the part I
thought she paid the least attention to; it was a presentation on living life with
hope. Many of our young people have had
their hopes extinguished at the ripe old age of 14. There is a direct correlation between the
loss of hope for the future and negative outcomes including involvement in the
criminal justice system, drug use, and homelessness. The veneer of anger is the protective sheen
that is a salve for the pain and uncertainty that comes from the messages that some
young people receive from family, friends, and teachers. I wish I could say that the brief interaction I had with this young
woman changed her, alas I do not know. I do know that she smiled a few
times. I overheard her tell her friend about her desire to "make a difference in her
community." Lastly I observed her confidence as she walked around the college campus. It was as if the three days gave her the knowledge that she too belonged on that campus. Her confident stroll on that last day at Sac State is the reason why she, and the many others who had the same rough veneer, belonged at camp.
It would be great if every child wore a smiley face and was respectful to peers and adults. It would be wonderful if every young person had supportive
families, friends, teachers, and communities; alas, many do not. As a community we do not have control over a
young person’s family, or their friends; however, we do have the ability to
provide opportunities to shift communities.
The Way Up Leadership Camp has provided opportunity to influence positive
change in the lives of young people through partnership between youth and
adults.
What did I learn at camp?
I learned young people are excellent teachers (all facilitation teams
had youth as partners in workshop development and instruction). I learned camp is an innovative method that
can reach young people to shift negative outcomes. Most importantly I learned these last
two things: first, the importance of stopping to listen and support the dreams
and goals of young people; second, I learned the value of looking beyond the
veneer to the heart of a child.Was camp exhausting…yes. Were there times I wondered what I had gotten
myself into…yes. Would I do it again…YES!
Forward
~Dr. Addie Lucille Ellis
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