January 5, 2012

Woo! 2011 is over and what a year it has been! The Youth of the Months, or YOMs as we like to call them, have truly done some damage on my emotions throughout this year. I can personally say that this show has exposed me to some of Vancouver’s most inspiring, life changing, and wonderful youth! It’s hard to narrow down such amazing people to a top 5 list, but it had to be done.

Please everyone do me a favour though and keep in mind just how inspirational each of these Youth of the Months of 2011 have been and feel free to nominate someone today!

Now, with much deliberation, voting, and decision making (drum roll please),

YOUTH IN 57 MINUTES’ TOP 5 YOUTH OF THE MONTHS FOR 2011 ARE (and in no particular order):

1. Joselyn John
2. Jessica Kruger
3. Katie Lentz
4. Adam Stich
5. Zoya Jiwa

1. Joselyn John went from having to leave her home in Burundi at the age of six due to a civil war, to walking on foot with her family to Tanzania, where refugees were later removed and sent to refugee camps in Malawi. She managed to come out on top with an educational scholarship landing her here in Vancouver at SFU and is now raising money and awareness of the refugee situations and bringing her family to Canada.

2. Jessica Kruger, despite going from working a summer job as a painter and falling off the ladder to later ending up as a paraplegic, has not erased that beautiful smile off of her face. She has seized every opportunity and after already travelling to Africa intends to stick to her dream of teaching English in a third world country! A go-getter to say the least!

3. Katie Lentz was one that changed my whole outlook on the world as I perceive it today. From being an addict to working with addicts, going from the streets, to now working towards a career in Psychology, she showed me how anyone can change their path when they are ready to do so. She reminds us all that life may throw a hard ball at you, but it’s how you handle it that shows who you truly are!

4. Adam Stich, an ordinary guy with an extraordinary dream! From deciding to spend a summer volunteering in a hospital in Nepal he went further to co-found the Khokana Project where his proceeds go towards helping the children complete their education. All the while, he’s been busy studying Animal Biology at UBC, volunteering, being a residence advisor, an active guy, and a social one too!

5. Zoya Jiwa, a girl whose goal is to help people and make them happy, was a real treat to have on the show! She learned early on that life wouldn’t come easy to her, but never let that get in her way. Being diagnosed with Lupus at a young age, she has taken that situation and made it a driving force in her life. She has spoken at TEDXKids, started a group about inner beauty and believing in ourselves, and aspires to continue to motivate the youth of the world so long as she can keep them happy!

So you see, being a Youth of the Month isn’t a clear cut ‘type of person.’ Our youth have overcome various life-altering obstacles, have volunteered, have been motivated to do good, have succeeded when success wasn’t even thought to be possible, and have overall just kept on believing through it all. I’ve said it once, and I will most definitely say it again: Y57’s Youth of the Months are just ordinary people trying to do extraordinary things. However big or small, we can all make a difference if we put our minds to it. In fact, last month, Amy Bains said it best: “It’s not like you have to go out and invent your own volunteer program.” Join something, start something, be a part of something, inspire someone, support someone, do what you can to keep those around you smiling and you are already making a difference!

Lastly, I would like to recognize  each of our Youth of the Months throughout this year and all the nominees for their various forms of ‘good deeds’, kind acts, ability to overcome difficult barriers, inspiration, and motivation!

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