I heard about YAC through my peers at school. I'm interested in joining YAC because I want to help others within my community and make a meaningful impact. Specific qualities I'd bring to the council are leadership, creativity, and I have a willingness to learn to better myself and those around me. I have not been given many opportunities to be a leader, but I was the captain of my travel soccer team for multiple seasons. When given the opportunity to lead a group of people I take it. I am often creative in figuring out ways to learn material school if the way the teacher explains doesn’t make sense to me. I am also able to help my peers figure out new creative ways to learn if they are struggling as well. And finally, there have been many times I have had to learn something new for the betterment of me and those around me. When I was in eighth grade band I was asked to switch instruments from the alto saxophone to the baritone saxophone and while the instruments are similar I had to learn a few new notes and ways to play it. It allowed me to become a better musician and help the band become better as a whole with a new sound being mixed in. As an athlete I am always looking to better myself in order to help the team out. To become a better soccer player I have been training and learning with Addie Waito so that I can gain new skills to become a more versatile soccer player and hopefully make an impact on my teams in the upcoming travel season and next high school season. Within school I have spent the last year willing to take harder classes in order to better myself academically. I have switched over to many AP and honors classes to challenge myself and ultimately make myself a better learner to help myself through the rest of high school and hopefully college.

I've never actually been given the chance to do community service. This is why I'd like to join YAC because through this organization I will hopefully be given the opportunity to help others in need and gain meaningful experience through participating in community service.

Mental health is a concern within our community because many of my peers don’t express their struggles and never confront them. Steps I recommend taking to address this concern include putting up flyers in the school, places where school activities take place, and some local businesses so they will be seen. Kids online can send in anonymously what their struggle is to either get it off their chest or help others who struggle with the same issues to speak out. Also, those who have struggled with and overcome mental health issues can help those currently going through them. This way, any teen or anyone in our community struggling with their mental health has a place to go without feeling exposed. Teens online, especially on social media, often get the wrong idea with what they should look like and act like to be liked and validated by others. Another idea that we could use to address the concern is to promote awareness by organizing workshops, seminars, or support groups where people, such as teens, can be heard and different problems to be understood by others, so they know they’re not alone. Encouraging open conversations about mental health can help people feel more comfortable reaching out for help and provide a supportive environment.

If I am accepted into YAC my prioritization and commitment will be very strong. Some extra-curricular activities that may interfere are I have soccer practice twice a week with games on weekends, as well as marching band rehearsal every Monday night and performances on some Fridays. These are only in the Fall and come winter time I do not partake in extra-curricular activities. In the Spring I will have soccer practice everyday after school and games on some weekends on some weekdays. Someone who I know is a member of YAC also participates in these extra-curricular activities and she still is able to prioritize YAC so I believe I will be able to as well.

No, I have not.