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The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce is finalizing plans for this year's Youth Leadership Weirton program. This is a program geared toward sophomores at Weir, Madonna, Brooke and Oak Glen high schools, with a goal of better preparing them for the future.
As a matter of full disclosure (and I know I've mentioned it before), I am active with the chamber, serving on its board of directors and as chair of the Education Committee which puts this program together. I enjoy it because of the opportunities to contribute to the community and to offer some guidance to our future generations.
Through Youth Leadership Weirton, the 30 selected students have a chance to learn more about their own personalities and how they can mesh or clash with others, they learn how to work together, how to set and accomplish their goals, they learn lessons in ethics and they go through an exercise where they can see how each of their decisions can affect others and their community.
Typically, a subcommittee of members from the Education Committee assists with the selection of each year's class. The last few years, the chamber received right around 30 applicants, and agreed to have everyone go through. COVID caused some disruptions, of course, but things appear to be coming back strong. This year, 43 applications were received.
The selection committee is provided with "blind" copies of the applications, so the names and most identifying information is covered up. They know the school, the student's GPA and their activities. So, much of the decision is based on an essay each student is asked to write.
It is interesting to read over the thoughts of our area's youth. They are concerned for their future. They want to see changes for the benefit of students for years to come. They see the potential for our region and want to see opportunity to encourage that potential.
I won't go into major detail on some of the essays I've been able to read over the years, but I will say I've seen incredible growth in the way these essays have been put together. At one point, students may have seen something such as an ice cream machine as making a great impact on their school environment. Today, they want to see a greater offering of educational courses, they put thought into the time available to them for their studies, they consider the cleanliness of their schools and the effect it has on the student population.
To me, it would do the school leadership more than a little good to take the time to listen to the thoughts of these young leaders and consider how they may improve what you have.
The youth of today have access to more information than any previous generation. They have more ways to connect with the world around them, to see and learn about the opportunities out there, and to see what is or isn't working.
I realize some things can't happen because the government ties the hands of educators in many aspects, but there are multiple ways to invest in our students. I don't think a little more communication and brainstorming could hurt.
The whole point of Youth Leadership Weirton is to assist in preparing our students for their future. The sessions they go through provide lessons which, quite frankly, aren't often available in the traditional school setting. It's an investment, and one I wish was available to all of the students in our local schools. Not everyone is going to go down the same path as part of their education or their life. This is giving them a few extra tools to, hopefully, help them out on whatever road they select.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)