A message from ASAP: Do youth feel valued and valuable?

    How important is it for our youth to feel valued and valuable within our communities? The easy answer is, VERY IMPORTANT, but why? According to the Search Institute, youth who feel appreciated are less likely to participate in risky behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use, violence, and early sexual activity. Furthermore, these young people feel good about themselves, feel respected, know their strengths and have a sense that they can make a difference in the world.     As adults living in a busy world, it is far easier at times to do things for young people rather than doing things with them. What we do not realize is that by creating places where youth feel safe and creating empowering roles in their homes, schools, and communities, youth become even more valuable as they begin to want to contribute. This sense of being valued and valuable in society is called Empowerment and is one of Search Institutes eight asset categories.
    Empowerment begins at home through providing choices, holding family meetings where all family members have a voice in plans, solutions and helping each other, through the establishment of chores, and through opportunities to serve those less fortunate. Experiences where young people are allowed to express their voice builds self-esteem and in turn, gives them the confidence to share their ideas, knowledge, and creativity by volunteering and working in paid jobs.
    How can adults determine what it takes for young people to feel empowered? They must simply ask themselves this question, “What makes you as a parent, employee, or friend feel valued?” The need to feel appreciated is a key developmental need for all humans, not just youth. The answers including feeling respected, being valued as a part of a group, having a sense that your making a difference, that your voice matters and is heard are universal. Simply put youth want and achieve empowerment in the same ways adults do.
    As our society struggles to find healthy and productive ways to raise our children, we must create a new lens. The view through the new lens looks very much like this — adults addressing youth in their communities by their name, youth voices being heard, adults asking for youth input, and community roles in which youth take an active part. Something amazing will happen as the light shines through the prism of the new lens … suddenly youth will begin to shine as well.
    Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.
    This article was brought to you by Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information about ASAP and 40 Developmental Assets contact Allison Heidorn, project assistant at 540-6772 or visit www.asapcoalition.com