A commitment to change: Hawaii youth speak out

“Raise Your Hand,” a new monthly column featuring Hawaii’s youth and their perspectives, will appear in the Insight section on the first Sunday of each month. It is facilitated by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders (CTL), a local nonprofit working at the high school level to engage, equip and empower Hawaii’s homegrown, future leaders to start making a difference now. For more information, see www.CenterForTomorrowsLeaders.org.

Imagine the changes that can be enacted if youth are given a platform within — not apart from — the community. In order for our society to progress, we must be willing to listen to the concerns of youth, a demographic that represents 20 percent of the population. We must be willing not only to teach but also to learn from youth by involving them in the decision making process. Yet for most of our formative lives, young adults are told to be seen and not heard. Adults should encourage them to do the opposite.

It is difficult for youth to vocalize their opinions because they don’t have the proper outlets. Students feel belittled by the social stigma highlighting their lack of education and life experience, under the premise they are inept at understanding our world. Young adults have a unique view of the world in spite of assumptions of naïveté. Adults should listen to and trust young people. Their dreams and optimism are not hampered by lack of life experience. They focus only on the solutions and not on the obstacles.

Platforms that provide youth a voice are not accessible. Even programs specifically targeted to youth rarely give opportunities to voice real concerns that enact meaningful change. As students, we’ve seen how student councils and governments have been distilled from being an avenue for student change to being an event planning committee — connoisseurs for proms, pep rallies and spirit weeks. We experience suppression of our voices because our school newspapers are censored directly by the Administration. The one platform specifically designed for student expression is rendered useless by the very institution that means to empower them.

Disengaged youth are like non-voters. Neither participates because of feeling powerless to make a difference. When youth are allowed to voice their opinions, amazing feats are accomplished. A young adult’s sole concern is not only about school lunches, bullies or the dress code. Taken seriously, students can tackle important topics. Youth activism in movements has exploded exponentially due to social media.

Empower students, listen to their concerns — whether it be about the quality of school lunches or the lack of diversity in the media. When involved in the decision-making process, young adults can be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

The younger generation is just as passionate and invested as their adult counterparts in issues pertaining to politics, the environment and mass urbanization. Locally, students have taken the reins of large endeavors to facilitate change within the state.

Projects like The Canvas, Hawaii’s first student workspace dedicated to tutoring students at no cost, and Fahrenheit 73, a student-led crowdfunding campaign that raised $22,000 to install solar powered air conditioning at Campbell High School are implementing positive changes. Students are addressing issues that have continuously challenged the state.

Youth representation should start in the classroom but their voices must transcend beyond. The ”Raise Your Hand” column gives students a platform and voice. Not only do we have the capability and capacity to be a positive influence among our peers, but our unique perspective and fervent optimism is conducive to a better society. This column functions as a medium whereby students can become leaders and contributors to fulfill society’s expectations of us.

Having a voice is not only about the ability to express thoughts and opinions but having the power to enact change. All it takes to institute change is for peers, educators and parents to empower the next generation to finally raise their hands.