It's mine!!

I have had a lot of interest from the older students about helping to run and shape the after school program. I honestly value their opinions. The response I get from them is a willingness to help and work alongside me. The student leaders that have stepped up are willing to encourage their younger peers and friends to follow the rules and lead in a positive way. Keep in mind they still have growing brains and that makes them susceptible to act irrationally at times, but more often them not they are caring and thoughtful individuals. Student leaders have helped me make and distribute promotional materials, helped to shape the rules, an d develop an incentive to  earn rewards for improved school work. As a new program the A.S.P is starting to take shape and our student leaders are starting to feel a sense of responsibility and ownership of the program. For instance one of the student council members has stopped saying, "What are you going to do about …… ". Now she says things like, "Maybe we should…"
I wonder how the world might be different if youth felt that they could work together with more adults in our community organizations. It would be nice to hear students say things like, "Over the summer I helped keep our parks clean, I was on a committee that made our school safer, We helped our teen mothers get a diploma, we helped to feed our homeless. Ownership makes a big difference. When it's yours you care more about it. 
This is also great for building meaningful relationships with the students. I'm finding that one of the best ways to build a relationship with anyone is work together with them toward a common goal. It's been wonderful to see students make the A.S.P their own.

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