Youth Follow Trend Setters

Posted by Khadijah Ali-Coleman Jul 31, 2006

For some reason, I'm one of those people who if I wear something different or do something different, I get a lot of flack from other people. They say things like, "You are so weird" or "Who did your hair?" or "Why are you doing it THAT way?" or they believe that something I did that was especially great was done by fluke or with ease that can be easily replicated. Then, without fail, they are following suit shortly after. And-- and this is the funny part-- they think it was their own idea.

I have to quell my ego a bit and not take offence to this fact often. Mainly, I look at the positive. I use this super power (said with a smile) to my advantage when working with young people. It's a wonderful component of promoting youth development.

I was on the popular show Showtime at the Apollo years ago and youth I worked with or lived among in my neighborhood were very excited for me. Most importantly, they believed that there was the same chance that they could be on television. To see "Ms. Khadijah" on television singing meant that the reality was just that much closer for them. I had youth drop by and visit-- those who I hadn't worked with or seen in ages and they wanted to know how they too could be on television, how could they work on their singing too. Even when I began writing professionally and garnered recognition with articles I had written, youth and adults began to ask, "How can I start writing too and be in papers?"

During these times are when I put in my spiel for learning, dedication and practice. I have a Master's degree in Mass Communication and I've been singing for years prior to being on television or in a band later. Coupled with my education, was a commitment to sticking to what I had spent years studying and finding opportunities-- paid and nonpaid-- to showcase those talents. But the behind the scenes, the struggle, is not what people first consider. They just see the fruits of that labor. It's our job to share the behind-the-scenes struggle and use it as an example when we are talking about the outcomes.

A lot of times, as youth workers, we preach to young people and tell them what they should or should not do but rarely can showcase our lives as examples of what the benefits of doing the right thing are. Even if we don't want to use our lives specifically, have an honest conversation with young people to let them know that to get the prizes in life, there will be certain things necessary to go through before getting that reward. In most cases, it's finishing school, choosing friends wisely, and creating and sticking to clear goals.

I encourage to be a trend setter. Demonstrate with your own life why following your dreams, being educated and demonstrating perserverance work. If you don't have something in your own life to attest to the fact that education matters, making positive choices matter and perserverance helps, then how are you a valuable or valid resource for the youth to listen to? If you are still a work in progress (as most of us are) and striving towards your goals, then share that reality to. Young people need us to be honest with them and consistent when we speak to them about the future. Our words matter more than we know and support youth in their crucial stages of youth development.