A more positive view of our youth.

[csgray]

I just wanted to provide a more positive perspective on our youth here on this side of the Big Island. I just had the privilege of participating in the Student Led Conferences at my school. This occurs twice a year, and every single student (including special education students) at the school where I teach presents an overview of their work and leadership to a panel of their peers, family and teachers. They each spend 45 minutes explaining and demonstrating what work they did this trimester, and how they have shown leadership by being a benefit to our learning community. Those who had less than stellar trimesters for the most part took ownership of their mistakes and explained how they planned to do better in the future. Some of those kids were so honest about themselves and how they need to change, with no whining and no excuses. Students on the panels held each other responsible for their actions and attitudes with a tough love mix of compassion, caring, and brutal honesty.

I cannot even begin to tell you what a privilege it was to sit on these panels and watch evolving young adults articulate who they are, what they've learned, and how they plan to move forward with their lives. I saw kids bring their panels to tears, laughter and joy by being amazingly honest about who they are now and who they hope to grow into. These kids are the future and I just wanted to let all of you who are reeling from the recent HS violence in our community know that not all of our youth are violent thugs out to prove their worth by beating each other up.

Carol