Youth Development and Leadership— Youth Section: What Youth Need to Know and Do

There are five developmental areas in which young people need to learn and grow from childhood to adulthood:

Working: Most of us gain fulfillment and satisfaction in our lives through our work, when we are valued for our contributions to the success of the organization or through the contributions the organization is making to the community. Work provides us with housing, food, and clothing as well as long-lasting personal relationships with our colleagues.

Learning: As we grow from childhood into a youth and then into an adult, we will need to make decisions about our education. Learning is a lifelong experience and is the key to the future we want for ourselves. It is our responsibility to make sure we obtain the education necessary to reach our goals. We need to understand the opportunities provided in school in order to make sound decisions. We should aim as high as we can. For youth with disabilities that means understanding the rights provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (see resource listings below).

Thriving: Health impacts all aspects of our life, including success in the classroom, within the community, and on the job. To maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible, we need to understand our health needs, know how to take care of ourselves, and advocate for what we need. The first step is to participate in our own health care decisions, whether it is deciding what to eat or discussing our health care with a physician. Managing our health will become our responsibility as an adult, so it is important to learn.

Connecting: Connecting with other people is important in almost everything we do. Meaningful relationships with adults and other youth in our life are critical to being a happy and productive adult. Establishing relationships is sometimes difficult, but it can be learned.

Leading: Positive skills, attitudes, and behaviors around personal goal setting and participation in groups, including civic involvement, define leading. If we have the desire and will to set goals for ourselves and attain them, we are on our way to becoming leaders.

• Question 1: How can I be sure that I am getting the youth development and leadership services that I need while I’m still in high school?
• Question 2: What about youth development and leadership opportunities after I leave high school?
• Question 3: How do I take over the management of my own health care? Why is it important?

Questions

1. How can I be sure that I am getting the youth development and leadership services that I need while I’m still in high school?

Participate in school activities such as classes and projects that will help you develop problem-solving skills. For example, high school students on the West Coast talked to community members and decided to plan the establishment of a health clinic near their school. This activity required them to solve many real world problems, and its success or failure had real consequences for community members. Your school may approach learning differently, but with the help of a counselor or advisor you can identify classes or programs that provide these sorts of experiences. For example, career-technical education programs almost always have a club that helps you learn more about occupations in various industries as well as providing you with opportunities to learn leadership skills. You may be able to identify programs outside of school like 4-H and Boys and Girls Clubs that offer other types of challenging experiences.

Another experience that will make a real difference for you is working closely with caring adults or mentors. Many schools have programs that put students in contact with adults who can advise them on decisions concerning school choices and career preparation. Mentoring programs can take many forms including tutoring, job shadowing, recreation, and career exploration. As mentioned above, community based programs may also offer these sorts of experiences.

Planned extracurricular activities may also advance your leadership development. These may be school-based programs that take place after school or they may be activities offered by community-based organizations. You should check out these options especially if you have a disability, as many can accommodate your needs and provide you with a social setting in which you could connect with other youth. See the Outcomes and Activities Table for more ideas.

Many schools now encourage students to direct their Individualized Education Programs (IEP) meetings and be actively involved in making decisions on courses of study, academic performance goals, supports needed to be successful, and determining responsibilities for providing the instruction and services described in the IEP. Your IEP must include a ‘transition’ plan when you are 14 years old. The transition plan describes how you will prepare to move from school to post-secondary education or work. By age 16, your IEP should not only include a plan, but also specific “transition” activities. You do not have to wait until 16 to start these activities, and you can also start the planning process before you develop transition plans and services. On average, adults change jobs five times or more throughout their life, so you should think bigger than a particular job and instead prepare for a career. Start thinking about what you like and don’t like to do and what careers might interest you.

2. What about youth development and leadership opportunities after I leave high school?

Colleges and community colleges have a variety of classroom-based opportunities such as courses on various aspects of leadership, communications, health, and education as well as internships, service learning, and other career-related services. Extracurricular activities are also available in student-led organizations, student government, debate teams, sports teams and many more. Researching these opportunities should be part of your process for selecting a college. If you have a disability, your college selection process should also include a review of the college’s disability support services—and remember, you must now advocate for your needs since your IEP is no longer in effect after you leave high school.

If you go to work during and after high school, investigate the leadership opportunities with potential employers. What kind of career ladders do they offer? Do they have apprenticeship or management trainee programs? Do they have an employee mentoring program? What are their policies on professional development and continuing education? What kind of health coverage do they provide? Do employees work in teams or independently? Are there opportunities for travel or learning another language? Do they have employee assistance programs? If you have a disability, be sure to plan whether you will or will not disclose your disability and request any needed accommodations.

3. How do I take over the management of my own health care? Why is it important?

To live a productive, fulfilled life you will need to learn how to manage your own health care. Start participating in your own health care decisions as soon as possible. Your parents may need to help you at first, but it is important that you start as early as possible to learn to make your own decisions.

Here are a few tips to help you take control of your own health care:

1. Develop healthy choices in your day-to-day living. These include the food you eat, the amount of rest and exercise you get, and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking or using drugs.
2. Learn how to manage visits with your doctor. The partnership you have with your physician is critical in making sure you are healthy. Going to the doctor can be overwhelming and even intimidating, so it is important to learn how to select a doctor with whom you can communicate effectively.
3. Learn about insurance coverage. What services are covered and what procedures do you have to follow to get those services? Insurance companies usually have customer service departments that can answer those questions for you.
4. Make the transition to an adult doctor. Ask your pediatrician for at least three possible referrals and then check the background of each doctor. Once you have selected a doctor, make sure that all of your files and medical information are transferred to the new doctor.
5. Don’t forget about your mental health. Become familiar with the mental health coverage offered by your insurance company and other mental health resources in your community. If you need help, ask for it.