Response to the Youth In Action article

The article A World Where Youth Hold the Power by Adeola A. Oredola talks about the Youth in Action (YIA) program. This program is all about giving the teens and children of our communities the opportunity to speak their minds about their own education, community, and bring out their creativity. Many communities don’t give the children of our future generations a chance to express themselves in their own ways. Instead our children have to go by the rules and thoughts of their elders who are teaching them their everyday curriculums. This article brings many perspectives that the YIA program has brought to its alumni and recent members. All of their experiences have impacted their lives in one way or another.

The YIA model resonates with my experience as a youth because when I was in school, my ideas where basically my own ideas. They were never good for the teachers’ expectations that were wanted for the classroom activities. Growing up children were taught to learn in one form or way rather than being creative and finding other ways to solve problems within their academic learning. Today’s youth should have a bigger choice in how they learn and interact in their communities and education. It is their future that they are working on to become successful and independent adults. Why not give them a chance to explore who they are and what they can bring to the table to expand and help educate their fellow students but also the future students of tomorrow.

Teachers must be open minded to these students’ ideas not just to be heard, but to actually be listened to. Our opinions and suggestions are the foundation to bringing together both young and old. You don’t have to be correct but at least it affords the youth to express their ideas and open up the discussion to the floor; meaning the group.