Kids these days

I did some outreach at a youth anti-racism conference today (didn't even know those existed!) and I think it was my first encounter with Toronto high school youth, ever, and the first time I've interacted with young people since I was in high school myself. Yeah, it's been a while and even though I find myself getting annoyed and muttering "them kids" more and more these days, what I saw today really inspired me. I've been missing out.

And since I have trouble structuring my paragraphs, I'll list out my observations and realizations in elaborated point forms :D

1) These young people are busy! I talked to a few, and while they were probably the keenest ones of the bunch, I got an idea of how much these teenagers are involved in their communities. Some of these youth are involved in 4-5 different initiatives, where they are leaders, educating and reaching out to their peers. Like, whoa. I remember doing the annual charity run for cancer...and yeah, that was about it. The true spirit of volunteerism was lost on me.

2) What a difference one teacher can make. My parents and brother will probably say "I told ya so" when I tell them this. As much as I've been trying to fight it, I do feel the inklings to become a teacher. Maybe not quite a highschool teacher but to have the same kind of impact. One kid (is it okay to call them kids?) said that he has one teacher that brings the youth out to these kinds of conferences and gets them involved in all different kinds of volunteer work. From the sounds of it, this teacher is a mentor to a lot of kids. A lot of pressure to be that kind of a role model but the rewards must amazing.

Another said that one of her teachers, who's openly gay, has also taken the students to an anti-homophobia conference where they learned about different types of oppressions and the kind if discrimination faced by those who don't identify as 'straight.' The student is also starting a Gay Straight Alliance group at her school. She is who I wish I could have been back in the day. What some of these kids are learning at 15, is what I've slowly had to learn in my 20s.

3) Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today. Okay, I stole that line from someone who quoted the Governor General Michaelle Jean. There's not much to elaborate on that one but I just wanted to throw that in there so I'll remember it in future days.

And I talk about youth like I'm not part of that group myself. While the years have taken their toll, I have to constantly remind myself that I'm somewhat of a young'un too...full of ideas, potential and hope. Hope that we really can make a difference and that it is our right and responsibility to reclaim the spaces that have been taken away from us.

Kids, let's do this.

**On another note, perhaps it's time I change the name of this blog. Maybe to something more hopeful? Mmmm nah.