They Got This! Written By Chrissie Kremzier, SRSLY Dexter
Sometimes it’s hard to not look to the future with dread. Political tensions, natural disasters, mental health crises, and violence take center stage in our news reels. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the negative, and if you feel that way, you aren’t alone. Luckily, working with youth in Dexter has given me a new sense of optimism for our future. As the coalition director for SRSLY Dexter, I get the pleasure of working with 5th-12th grade students weekly. This year we’ve seen a huge upsurge in youth engagement, showing that youth are interested in being leaders and helpers in their communities. No matter the age group I work with, I always walk away from these interactions inspired and hopeful.
One event in particular exemplified this feeling of hope. At the end of January, high school students in SRSLY were invited to an event in Lansing to talk with state senators and representatives about youth tobacco use and vaping. This event was on a Tuesday night, an hour away from Dexter, and required a business casual dress code. Instead of being intimidated by this significant opportunity and the enormity of the issue of youth vaping, several Dexter High School seniors were ecstatic about attending. Two high school seniors were able to make this school night event work, despite their busy after school schedules. They were so excited to share their concerns around youth vaping with people who could make a difference. I didn’t know what to expect, or how much guidance these students would need in their conversations with elected officials. But, I left the event blown away by both the maturity and passion these students have for making their community a better, safer place for youth. Our students discussed how SRSLY works to “foster prosocial involvement” in youth, how their “school’s mitigation tactics” around vaping have been perhaps too “punitive” and instead should be “opportunities for support” for students who are struggling and turning to substances. Those words in quotes came from the mouths of our youth leaders. Their ability to reflect on youth issues with compassion astounded me. Their vocabularies astounded me. Their dedication to making a positive difference astounded me. I walked away from the event with a surging feeling of hope. There are so many young people today dedicated to standing up for what is right, dedicated to helping others. Yes, the world is scary and tough, and these kids, I really think they got this.
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