This is not an accurate depiction. We confirmed this summer what we knew all along, that many teen-agers in Hawaii and throughout the United States want to make a difference in this world, and they know that they have to begin doing it now.
We were selected as representatives of our high schools - Moanalua High (Clifford) and Kamehameha Schools (Jasmine) - to attend the annual Hawaii State Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference on Oahu in June. A total of 55 local high school sophomores came together at the conference to meet each other, and to learn from business and community leaders about our roles in Hawaii's future.
From that conference, we were selected as the two representatives from Hawaii to attend the HOBY World Leadership Congress in Houston just before the start of school. The eight-day conference was intended to educate, enlighten and inspire teens as future leaders. It worked for us.
In addition to talking to expert panelists from around the world about their careers in leadership, we were dazzled with visits to the NASA Houston Space Center and the Houston Medical Center. Many of the experiences had a once-in-a-lifetime quality. We witnessed open heart surgery. We toured the NASA simulation of the International Space Station and talked to astronauts who were involved in the most recent space mission. We also learned martial arts and visited a chapel in which members of all religions are allowed to worship.
As representatives from Hawaii, we were able to interact with people from far away lands firsthand, seeing through different eyes and exploring the world through our new friendships. Best of all, we were able to share the uniqueness of our own Hawaiian culture with other teens who believe they can make a difference in their home states.
Now that we have returned, we want to use what we learned to inspire Hawaii's future leaders.
We aren't going to get anywhere in life if we make excuses like, "We're too young to make a difference anyway."
YOUNG leaders in each high school must work to open up a dialogue with all of their classmates. A willingness to listen to one another will improve the lives of everyone in the community because teen-agers have the creativity and energy to come up with solutions to problems. We aren't strapped down with heavy burdens yet; we have the freedom to choose our destinies and to make the most of our future.
Next time you think about spraying graffiti on a wall, stealing something, using drugs or just loafing around the mall instead of doing your homework, ask yourself, "How will this affect my choices in the future?"
The more wrong you do, the less options you will have. But if you open your life to positive people and activities, you will have the freedom to choose any future you want.
We may be teen-agers, but we are tomorrow's leaders, and we can change the world if we make the right choices today.