Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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Editor’s note: About 550 Clark County high school students participated in the annual Sun Youth Forum on Sept. 11 at Clark High School. The students were divided into groups to discuss several topics. A spokesperson was chosen from each discussion group to write a column about the students’ findings. Today, Brian Greenspun turns over his “Where I Stand” space to Antron Johnson, a senior at the College of Southern Nevada High School, to write about his group’s discussions.
“Some people in America would rather die than live their lives without their medication.” The solemn statement shook the room as my classmates realized we were no longer discussing an abstract policy, but had instead ventured into a deeply personal experience.
Student Representative Antron Johnson, College of Southern Nevada High School, poses during the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum at Clark High School Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
Moments like this form the backbone of the Sun Youth Forum, a platform for high school juniors and seniors to discuss contemporary societal issues.
Teens like me are too often conditioned to conform to what adults say, even as we suppress our disagreement or discomfort. The pressure to remain silent only increases for people from historically marginalized backgrounds or those who lack the power and influence to meaningfully or immediately change their circumstances.
This reality came into sharp focus during a discussion of the treatment of women in America, when a female participant stated bluntly, “It is not my responsibility to make you comfortable.”
The impact of this statement was profound.
Women in society are often constrained by societal norms and are conditioned to not draw attention to themselves. When they stand up for themselves, they’re too often painted as bossy or “unfriendly.”
My colleague recounted an instance at her sister’s quinceanera where she navigated these expectations as a man attempted to coerce her and her friend to kiss. I am so glad that our group could agree that this request was inappropriate, especially when involving a minor. The quivering in her voice and tears in her eyes truly underscored the importance of empathy when approaching our discussion.
As a young gay man, I often grapple with the preconceived notions that society places on me. There is an unspoken expectation that men should not be effeminate. I often wonder if I am being too flamboyant and making others uncomfortable, but then if I act too masculine, I fear I am just reinforcing the “angry Black man” stereotype. Ultimately, by focusing on others’ perceptions of me, I am ignoring my duty to be true and honest to myself. It’s uncomfortable and unnecessary.
As the conversation continued throughout the day, it became clear that in a room with such a diverse group of students from a wide variety socioeconomic backgrounds, races, religions and political affiliations, listening to one another was an essential element of overcoming the societal pressure to be quiet and conform. Not just hearing, but truly listening, paying attention, learning and identifying common ground was the only way we could build bridges across the many experiences and identities that divided us.
One student, who is not a U.S. citizen and has non-English-speaking parents, shared her experience of translating for her family all her life. Her family comes from a country where education is a privilege and not a right. Her mom was never taught how to read, not even in her native language. For her family, documentation is a difficult process. This resilient student recounted times when she translated government documents for her parents just so that they all could become American citizens. While I could not relate to this experience directly, I could certainly empathize with the feeling of being an outsider and having to work hard to achieve what others sometimes take for granted. That was progress.
The topic that sparked the most discussion was health care. A student from Canada shared insights about the contrasts between America’s and Canada’s health care systems while emphasizing Canada’s universally free health care. Another student added, “For Canadian hospitals to sustain free health care, budget cuts must be made.” Given these complexities, a consensus emerged that there is no simple and straightforward solution to achieving affordable and consistent health care in the United States. And yet, we could all agree that the inability to reasonably access or afford health care is terrifying. Solutions to these problems are out there, just waiting for this and future generations to discover them.
As an aspiring psychiatrist, I instantly thought about psych patients without access to their medication, “Some people in America would rather die than live their everyday lives without their medication.” This is a sad reality for many patients in the medical system.
“Our generation, and future ones to come, have one thing in common — we have yet to become blinded by the trials life can bring,” I said to the group. Our ability to unite and discuss such weighty topics is empowering.
I thank the Las Vegas Sun for this opportunity to discuss crucial societal matters passionately. Our generation is filled with optimism, which is the catalyst for positive change in the future. To harness that power for change, young people need to listen to each other, collaborate with one another, and focus on actionable solutions that create meaningful change. We also need adults to include us in important conversations about policies moving forward. After all, it is young people who will inherit the world.
Thanks to the Sun Youth Forum, a passion to achieve a brighter future has been ignited in me and my fellow classmates. That’s where I stand.
