Every September, we shine a spotlight on local teens doing extraordinary things. And every year, as I read their stories, I find myself feeling a little better about the future.
What struck me most this year wasn’t the length of their résumés, impressive as they are, but what lies behind them: curiosity, resilience, generosity and a genuine desire to make a difference. These are young people who aren’t simply checking boxes or collecting accolades; they are pursuing the things that matter to them, challenging themselves and finding ways to bring others along with them.
Ella Burchell talks about the confidence she sees grow in younger athletes she coaches. Alexandra Lund hopes to turn a deeply personal experience with her grandmother’s heart disease into a career in medicine. Ryder King found a sense of purpose at the Boys & Girls Club. Derek Shah created an Ethics Club not to find the “right” answer, but to help his peers think more deeply about what they believe. And Kiki Taylor is using her love of books to make sure other kids have access to them, too.
There is plenty here to reassure us as parents: The future appears to be in very capable hands.
But as a parent of younger children, I found myself thinking about something else: the importance of giving the next generation role models they can actually see themselves in. They need to see teenagers who are accomplished and interesting and driven—but also teenagers who are figuring things out as they go. Young people who have passions that may change, who have had to push through nerves and setbacks, who sometimes doubt themselves, and who are still, very much, kids.
Role models don’t have to be celebrities or people who seem impossibly far away. Sometimes they’re the high school student down the road who coaches your child’s team, plays in the same orchestra, starts a club at school or simply takes the time to encourage someone younger.
These ten teens give us plenty to feel good about. But perhaps their greatest impact will be on the kids who are watching them now—and beginning to imagine who they might become next.
