Let Youth Voices Be Heard - Spring/Summer 2015 Issue

S P R I N G / S U M M E R

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Let Youth Voices Be Heard 21st Century Leaders’ quarterly publication.

Published by student leaders, for student leaders

In This Issue • Tips to starting a new organization • 5 Ways to make the most of your summer

Thanks for checking out 21CL’s latest publication, Let Youth Voices Be Heard, written and created by students of our Youth Leadership Council. Enjoy!

• How to prepare for your senior year • Transitioning into college • Youth Action Center: STEM WARS

Save the Date!

SYLI May 31-June 5 SYLI @Goizueta kicks off 21CL’s first summer leadership institute at Emory.

EarthCare June 7 – June 12 EarthCare, sponsored by Georgia Power takes place at Berry College.

TVYMI

YLC & YA Applications

June 21 – June 26 Turner Voices Youth Media Institute, sponsored by Turner Broadcasting System wraps up 21CL’s summer.

July 2015 Apply to be a part of the Youth Leadership Council or the Youth Ambassadors.

Applications Open in July.

LET YOUTH VOICES BE HEARD

SPRING/SUMMER 2015

Meet the Staff This is the 2015 Spring/Summer Issue of 21st Century Leaders’ Youth Leadership Council (YLC) publication.

We represent 22 students from 20 different high schools across the state of Georgia. The YLC is a branch of students who are called upon to publish and write our quarterly publication, write blogs, and asked for recommendations for year-round programs. Our goal is to establish a large foundation that cultivates future generations of leaders who can further expand our accomplishments. We hope that you find this issue interesting and informative. The following staff makes up the spring/summer publication team and we thank you for reading this issue!

Dominique Bell Editor-in-Chief Chattahoochee High School Class of 2015

Ammu Kumar

Grace Xu

Writer

Writer

Wheeler High School Class of 2016

Parkview High School Class of 2016

Jordan Purcell

Joseph Wilson

Writer

Writer

Arabia Mountain High School Class of 2017

A.R. Johnson Health Science & Engineering Magnet School Class of 2015

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WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR

SUMMER

by Ammu Kumar VOLUNTEER- Volunteerism is a great way to have a productive and effective summer. You’ll be helping your community, and getting tons of service hours, which is important for college applications. If interested, check out local hospitals and shelters.

TRAVEL- Our school years are always ridiculously busy, and there’s almost never a chance to take a week or two off and go explore with your family. Traveling can be as simple as hiking a local mountain, going camping, or as big as traveling to Europe!

INTERN/JOB SHADOW- Find a company in a field you’re interested in and ask if you can intern or job shadow for a few weeks. Working with/following people will let you see what the job consists of and helps you get a feel for the environment of an office, and can show you whether you truly like the field you’re considering. Use those contacts from 21CL events to make your first step and email them.

GET A JOB- Nowadays, the cost of college tuition has been rising, and having spare change is never a bad thing. Getting a job can provide you with first hand knowledge of personal finance, routine, and you may even get some references. Plus, you get to put your leadership skills to use in a real-world job setting.

TAKE A BREAK- Our bodies and minds are usually in overdrive during the school year, what with AP Classes, and SATs. It’s a great idea to use your summer to rest and recharge. Go to the pool with your friends, catch a movie or 2, or just sleep in! As long as you’re balancing your time properly, you deserve it!

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By Dominique Bell Second semester is in full swing and as the school year draws closer to an end it’s often easy to slip off of the wagon. But let’s not forget that second semester counts the most. With EOCTs, finals, and AP tests, your study habits have to be stronger than ever.

And seniors, just because you have already been accepted into college

Manage your daily schedule: Keep an organizer and make sure that you are keeping track of all your homework assignments. If you have extra time during class, try to knock most of your assignments out of the way, so by the time you get home, you won’t have to worry about it.

choice, that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing from now on.

College admission offices will receive your final transcript, and yes it is possible to be declined after acceptance. So, how can you manage such a stressful semester and still have fun? Here are a few tips:

Ask for assistance: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

You don’t want your grades to suffer because of your pride. If you aren't keeping up with the pace of your other classmates, ask your teacher to recommend a peer to assist you. Meet at a local Starbucks after school and study for about 2 hours. The effort will definitely show in your improved grades!

Don’t forget to have fun: Spring is in the air and there are lots of extra curricular activities going on. When you have free space in your schedule, attempt to attend a sporting event, audition for the talent show, or plan a weekend get together with your friends. It is okay to enjoy yourself in the midst of a stressful semester, but remember to remain focused… the colleges are watching.

YOUR CHECKLIST 1. Manage your

The exciting and scary college transition

schedule 2. Ask for assistance 3. Have FUN!

Ending senior year strong is one thing, but starting college is another. After receiving your acceptance letter, make sure you check your college’s website to stay on track for your freshman year. Take all of the necessary tests as soon as possible, sign up for university housing if you plan to live on campus, and check your FAFSA account to make sure that your financial aid is covered.

Also during your free time, you can use social media to network with future class- mates. You may be able to set a date to meet in person. Follow these tips for a smooth transition from a high school senior to a college freshman.

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Be sure to check out our special “Let Youth Voices Be Heard: 21CL Senior Edition” during our Senior Week celebration on May 11th - May 15th.

See where some of our senior leaders are headed next and how 21CL impacted them on this leadership journey.

Be sure to follow us on social media & our student blog on our website! #21CLSeniorWeek

21st Century Leaders

@21CLYouth @21CLYouth 5

21stcenturyleaders.org/blog

LET YOUTH VOICES BE HEARD

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How to Start a New Organization: Be ready for the new school year

by Grace Xu

When students begin joining extracurricular

activities and taking on responsibilities in these clubs, many do not consider the opportunity to start a new organization on campus.

Oftentimes, schools lack certain clubs that can provide a wide variety of experiences for students, which requires students to step up and take initiative to create these organizations.

Clubs such as National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, and Future Business Leaders of America are common at many high schools; however, a Global Connections Club, Relay for Life Team, or an Environmental Club may be absent.

Organizations that are currently missing at your school present an opportunity for you to express your interests, take action, and leave an impact on your community.

Find a cause that you are truly passionate about, whether it’s STEM, volunteerism, or leadership. Then, ask a teacher to become a sponsor, who will be able to host meetings before or after school in their classroom and request administrative approval. Lastly, gather a group of dedicated individuals who are willing to put forth the time and effort to make this new organization a success. Establish officer positions, such as President, Vice President, Secretary, Public Relations, or Treasurer to delegate specific responsibilities to other team members.

A great example is 21CL student, Chirag Manyapu, a graduating senior at Northview High School, who started his school’s first mentoring program called Titan to Titan.

Chirag saw a need his freshman year and implemented the now go-to program for freshmen and the counseling advisory board.

Publicity is key to success. The Public Relations officer should submit an article to your school’s newspaper promoting the organization, emphasizing the unique benefits of joining the club and how it differs from other organizations already established on campus. Create a method of communication to reach out to members, whether it’s remind texts, email updates, or a Facebook group. Be sure to set meetings at a regular time, so members will be familiar with an organized schedule. Arrange to host a fun social open to all students on campus, such as ice cream or frisbee to garner additional publicity and create more awareness for your club. Design a bulletin board with a basic outline of the club’s mission and attach informational forms for prospective members to pick up.

As you prepare to leave high school and go on pursue college, be sure to bequeath the club that you have established to a group of committed and passionate underclassmen who will continue to pass on the legacy that you have created. Provide them with access to all of the files and documents that you have created for the club so that they will be able to continue to keep the club functioning smoothly and ontrack. With the resources already present and the foundation built upon by the inaugural officer team, the future years of the club are guaranteed to be a success, as younger generations of students continue to follow in your footsteps and work towards making a positive difference.

Develop a list of goals that you and your team would like to achieve by the end of the semester, such as having at least fifty members or participating in a certain fundraiser. Most clubs require significant expenditures for their operations, such as registration fees and transportation for conferences or purchasing.

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STEM WARS

By Jorda n purcell

On February 28th, 2015, the first annual STEM Wars, a countywide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) competition, in DeKalb County, took place in Arabia Mountain High School for middle school students. The event was presented by the organization Teens T.U.R.N. U.P. There, teams competed in different challenges to earn points so they can win the first place trophy for their school. These schools included; Champion Theme School, Leadership Prep Academy, Lithonia Middle School, DeKalb Academy of Technology and Environment, Chapel Hill Middle School, Freedom Middle School, Columbia Middle School, Redan Middle School, Salem Middle School, and Miller Grove Middle School. Some of the challenges students had to do were to construct a paper airplane, use index cards to support 10-pound weights, and build a solarpowered car to use in elementary school classrooms. Along with the volunteers who helped with the business showcase, there were other Arabia Mountain students working as student coaches for each team.

In the business showcase, various professionals from companies such as Baxter, Quality Labs, and the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shared their knowledge about their occupations and the pathway on how they got to where they are today. The 21st Century Leaders Youth Action Center at Arabia Mountain H.S. members were responsible for assisting the business professionals in preparation for the business showcase, which lasted from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Their main task was to make sure that the middle school students had a chance to meet everyone in the room. There were different experts who presented that morning from mechanical engineers to validations specialists and quality associates to IT systems analysts and clinical microbiologists. Not only did it give the 21CL Youth Action Center members the opportunity to volunteer, but they also got to network and learn about the different careers in the STEM fields. “The STEM Wars career showcase made me realize that there are great jobs that concern science and engineering other than healthcare services,� said Morgan Ferebee, a 21CL Youth Action Center at Arabia Mountain H.S. member.

The team from the Dekalb Academy of Technology and Environment ended up taking the gold in the closing ceremony. Students, volunteers, and parents all had a great time and left with a greater knowledge of the STEM fields.

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Leadership Gallery

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Tips for a Successful Senior Year

by Joseph Wilson, Jr. Hello juniors!

As a graduating senior, I can tell you that your time to walk across the stage and receive your diploma will be here before you know it. While this will be an exciting and memorable time, here are a few tips to begin and end senior year on top.

Begin to plan for life after high school. The end of senior year brings upon a crossroad in life.

The decision that you make after high school can affect you for many years to come, so you must make wise and sound decisions that will be best for you. If you want to pursue higher education, research want you want in a college or university. Look for size, location, and types of degrees offered. Also, begin to plan to take the SAT or ACT. These tests and college readiness assessments are used by colleges to determine whether you will be offered admission into their school. However, college is not for everyone. There are many other options that can lead to a successful future, such as the military and vocational school. Research is crucial to find out what is best for you.

Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships! Those who are planning to pursue a higher education; one obstacle that is present is finding a way to pay for schooling. Many students in America who are currently in college and those who have already graduated are in student debt. One way to ensure you will not be in this same predicament is by winning scholarships. The only drawback to some is the work that must be put in to receive it, such as an essay or arts supplement. While this can be tiring, the hard work will pay off by the monies won. Begin to research scholarships that you can apply for; that way, you can start to prepare to guarantee that you know the requirements for the scholarship. Here are some scholarship search engines:

• • • • •

www.fastweb.com www.cappex.com www.collegegreenlight.com www.scholarships.com www.google.com and enter keywords such as ‘scholarships for seniors’

FINAL THOUGHTS 1. Don’t Procrastinate! These words have been engrained in the mind of many students since the beginning of schooling. However, this tip is crucial to have a successful year. Senioritis is REAL! Do not let your hard work thus far to be thrown down the drain due to a lackadaisical attitude. In the past, students’ admissions to colleges have been rescinded due to a notice of a drop in academic performance.

2. LIVE IT UP!! This is senior year! You are about to reap the harvest of your hard work and dedication. While you need to work hard, enjoy yourself! Make lasting memories and absorb all you can while at high school. Create long-lasting friendships, and enjoy life during your final year of high school. You only have about 300 days left!

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#21CLTrending What’s your motivation or goal this summer?

Here’s a compilation of various trends and happenings in the social world that we think all of our fellow leaders should check out this spring and summer.

• Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding • Sugar– Maroon 5 • Uptown Funk– Mark Ranson feat. Bruno Mars • FourFive Seconds– Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney • Elastic Heart– Sia • I Want You to Know– Zedd feat. Selena

Still Alice– Lisa Genova The Duff– Kody Keplinger The Liar– Nora Roberts All the Light We Cannot See– Anthony Doerr • The Maze Runner (Series)- James Dashner • • • •

• • • • • •

Fast & Furious 7 Paul Bart: Mall Cop 2 The Wedding Ringer Age of Adeline Cinderella Avengers: Age of Ultron