Students Speak Up!

The GENYOUth Leadership Roundtable last week was an awesome experience! I got to meet men and women who were interested in the same topic: Youth Empowerment. It was great seeing that all these people were interested in seeing how they can help us, the youth, feel empowered and get more involved. Meeting and talking with Mr. Jesus Mendoza with the USDA was great. We talked about the things he is doing with the USDA, the things I have done with the program, and how they both can work together to empower youth.

Empowering youth is very important and vital to our nation and world. After all, our generation is our nation’s next leaders. From the Roundtable, I learned that empowering youth isn’t just about putting youth in the driver’s seat, but it’s also about making sure youth are equipped with the materials and tools needed to be successful. Youth empowerment is like a domino effect: once we empower our generation, the next generation becomes empowered through our leadership and the cycle goes on.

Therefore, to all youth I encourage you to become leaders in your school and communities so that you can equip and empower the generations to come. All in all, both my dad and I are very grateful for this great experience and opportunities given to us through this program.

Heaven
National Ambassador
Louisiana
9th Grade
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My experience at GENYOUth’s Leadership Round Table at Levi’s Stadium was nothing short of amazing. From tackling important issues relating to elevating student voice to networking with some of the most influential members of our society, I was honored to be a part of it all.

During our Roundtable discussion, we talked about how each of us could compile our resources and talents, and how to give these tools to students and truly empower them to become the leaders of the world around them. One important idea that was brought up is that every school board has the opportunity to appoint a student to their respective school board, and this idea is revolutionary! Can you imagine the change in curriculum and school district policy if there was a liaison between students and the School Board? The possibilities are endless!

In our breakout sessions, I was involved with the business executives and representatives. We all agreed that giving the students a voice in the business world is crucial, because every position from the CEO office to the consumer will be filled by a member of today’s youth. This idea of business outreach for students and really providing a “platform” for the projection of the student voice is new, progressive, and provocative. Notice how I did not use the word “structure”, because it is one thing to build a child a box and tell them to play in it. It is a whole other process to give that child the materials and tools and let them build the box, because when they do, they will be much more likely to play in it.

Tyler
Youth Council Member
Michigan
12th Grade