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Wesley Mann of Palo Verde High School - 2011 Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum representative Tuesday, November 22, 2011.
About 1,000 students from high schools throughout Southern Nevada participated in the 55th annual Sun Youth Forum on Nov. 22. The students were divided into groups to discuss a variety of topics. A representative was chosen from each group to write a column about the students’ findings. Wesley Mann of Palo Verde High School writes about issues covered by his group, “Teen Topics.”
The day began as about 20 fellow students and I arrived in room N234 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Our moderator, Dr. P. Kay Carl, split our group into two so we could become acquainted with our fellow orators.
We were first asked simple questions so we could warm up and become less nervous. The group I was in began with whether it was more difficult to be a teenager in our time compared with five, 10 and 20 years ago. After a long discussion, our group came to the decision that when looking at our social situations, our difficulties with being accepted into higher education and our increasing workload, our lives feel more difficult. We did, however, reflect upon some difficulties that teenagers of past times faced, such as pressure to support their families and the military draft.
Meanwhile, the other group discussed how growing up in Las Vegas influences teens. This group discussed that while living in Las Vegas, there are influences that make children more prone to pressure from parties and alcohol. They added that growing up here puts children in the fast lane and forces them to become adults earlier than usual.
Each group was then given the task of discussing bullying. One group focused on online bullying, the other group on face-to-face bullying. We came to similar conclusions. We decided that schools should have in place easier and more substantial programs.
As a large group, students discussed more pressing and controversial questions. Our first question: Do the major industries of Nevada truly want children educated? The room fell silent at first, until a few brave volunteers raised their hands. The conversation was shallow at first, simply laying out the major industries (gambling and mining). At the start, people answered yes, explaining that we are future business leaders and that for the companies to continue to grow, they would need us to be educated. There was, however, another view — those who said the industries did not need an educated workforce, meaning that they didn’t have to care if we were educated. Just as the words started to become a tad harsh, our moderator stepped in and informed us that we would be breaking for lunch.
After a great lunch and a dance show by the Jabbawockeez, we began another topic. This topic was by far the most interesting and edgy. We were to address how to teach teens about safe sex, whether teens should be allowed to have an abortion without parental consent and how to distribute birth control. These questions exploded into huge arguments over the start of life and even the pros and cons of abstinence.
Ultimately, however, the group learned that we could communicate our opinions without having to completely disagree with one another. After all the discussions and events of the day, the 20 of us came out stronger.
