I heard about YAC through my friend Maya Scalf who highly recommended it for its leadership values and positive environment. To the council I would bring a true dedication to YAC’s mission and betterment of the community, i would also bring my personal leadership knowledge and experience in similar councils.

Community service to me is making a positive impact on people one person at a time. I have been volunteering at Van Burren Youth Camp for three years now as an overnight camp counselor. I have been doing it for this long because I love the impact I get to make on kids in my community. Getting to see them grow as individuals through camp activities is really rewarding and I love getting to see them go home at the end of the week and show their parents everything they’ve learned. I’m satisfied knowing that I play a role in that, and
ultimately I become an important figure in these kids lives. Through Van Burren Youth Camp i’ve come to love community service and helping the people around me in any way I can.

One of the biggest problems facing today’s teens is mental health. Teens can face stress that affects their mental health from school, sports, jobs, family responsibilities, social media and friendships. mental health concerns can be easily overlooked. This mistake can leave teens feeling down or depressed. Fortunately, our community is able to take steps to help mental health issues, especially within teens.

It would be extremely beneficial to teens in our community if we could make it more apparent that counselors are more than willing to talk at any given time. This will be especially helpful if teens don’t feel comfortable talking to their friends, parents or teachers about their problems.

I also think that it would be beneficial to remove the stigma surrounding getting help for mental health. Teenagers may feel as if they are “weak” for seeking help. Having fundraisers or community events focused around the benefits of getting help for mental health could help those teens feel more accepted. These events could be for everyone in the community, not only educate, but to keep people on the lookout for signs of individuals struggling with mental health

Lastly, educating teens on how your physical health can affect your mental health. Educating teens and preteens on healthy habits, including balanced eating, proper sleep, and exercise. Showing them how all of these habits can affect their mental health in a positive or negative way.

Currently, my extracurricular events include softball and my job. If I were to be accepted to YAC, it would shoot up to the top of my list of priorities. I would be sure to schedule around YAC meetings. And stay organized so that I know exactly when they are.

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