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Show UP FOR DUSCUSSION Column: Sterling Says Talk to me (but not through text) TEXT Sterling Gray I remember when I realized the world had changed. It was after watching a movie at my house, and I asked my cousin who she had been texting the entire time. The answer, "My boyfriend," blew my mind He had been sitting on an adjacent couch at the time. "We were fighting," she explained, then changed the subject, as if this were no major announcement. I brought her back. "Wait, what? You were fighting, through texts, while in the same room together?" She understood my question, but not the incredulity. "Yeah. So?" It's only three years later, but the onward march of technology has completely trampled my apparently archaic view of relationships. Call friends to catch up? Nah. Just look up their latest pictures on Facebook. Forget to set up a date with what's-her-face for tonight? No worries bro. Just text her during physics class (then complain later that you don't understand the professor). Or better yet, post "Hey, let's hang out!" on her Wall and wait for a response. Shut-ins rejoice! We don't need face to face communication anymore, just P2P. Right? I once dated a girl who refused to share her feelings to my face, even when I tried to force it. "I feel uncomfortable," she would grumble. Then as soon as I left her house, my phone would buzz. "i had fun tonite thanks for dinner. sorry i cant talk about my feelings but I'm glad you tried" Yeah, that relationship went real deep, let me tell ya. That's the word that's missing: depth. We have faster, farther reaching communication than ever before, but it's all on the surface of our computer and phone screens. Although everything is moving quickly in the world of technology, our relationships have taken a step back. That's right girlfriend. That guy you met, looked up on facebook, and have had regular technological contact with for the past few weeks? Sorry sister, but that's going nowhere. If we keep this up, the things that really matter in this world, our relationships, are going nowhere too. 81 theVmagazine A group of teens pose at the Young Dreamers Conference. The conference helps teens look to mentors for a positive influence. Child See, Child Do TEXT Yvette Cruz PHOTOGRAPHY Tuare Garrido A perfect world with no negative influences is only imaginable, meaning the importance of positive involvement in a young person's life is crucial to put an end to existing negative statistics. While some may think of Utah Valley as a tranquil and safe environment for kids to group up in, most don't realize the potential dangers. Even at early ages, it's not a challenge for kids to be introduced to negative influence that can lead to drugs or alcohol. If every one of those kids had a mentor in their life to guide them down the right path or simply listen to them, just maybe they would stay out of trouble and away from negative influences. According to SafeNetMentor. org, kids and teens with mentors: Earned higher grades Are 52 percent less likely than their peers to skip a day of school Are 46-70 percent less likely to initiate drug use Are 27 percent less likely to initiate alcohol use Are less aggressive Have better relationships with their parents Programs and organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club of America, the Safety Net Mentors, United Way of Utah County, Unidos Saldremos Adelante Leadership Program and Latinos in Action (LIA) all work towards mentoring potential atrisk individuals. Each program strives towards decreasing negative statistics regarding the youth in their community. On May 27, Utah Valley's USALP hosted their first "Young Dreamers Conference" for atrisk youth in the state of Utah. The conference engaged the teens in activities throughout the weekend that allowed them to get to know their counselors and open up to their peers. Jay Molock, admissions counselor at the University of Utah, was the keynote speaker for the evening. "Anytime any student wants us to meet them where they're at, that has a lot do to with having something in common with them and to touch things in their lives that I know are happening as well as telling them what the next steps are to becoming a productive citizen," said Molock when asked how he felt his presentation went with the students. Positive involvement in a life considered at-risk is more than wanting to make a difference; it is going out there and actually changing the direction a person is going for the better. The Young Dreamers Conference is proof of that. There are many organizations and programs that provide an individual the opportunity to be positively involved with at-risk teens and eventually change their lives. These programs only require a small portion of someone's time and a desire to be there for another individual in need of guidance. Everyone is a potential mentor. Everyone has the power to change a life simply by giving the young people around them a voice and showing them they matter. With all the opportunities that exist for potential mentors, what's so hard about getting involved with one? |