Relating to Youth

1. Youth are action oriented as contrasted to adults who may prefer to sit and think and talk. They would rather be running, "shooting hoops," or playing video games.

2. We may think their world is limited because we think they have not heard nor experienced all that we have thought through and experienced as adults. However, with the vast amount of information that is available via various media, they may be far advanced in their knowledge of life in general than we as adults were at their age! Sex, violence, alcohol, drugs, world events, space travel already existed before they were born and without proper guidance, youth were already at risk from profiteers who were promoting concepts and activities that were either harmful to themselves or to others.

3. Their way of processing information may not have been formed by an informed choice because they may not have known of a variety of options. They may have responded naturally in a mode of self-preservation which resulted in lying, cheating, stealing, use of mind-altering substances, foul language, and violence.

4. Being constantly bombarded by news of war, ever-increasing national debt, and harsh words from dissatisfied and impatient adults for them to perform according to the expectations of the adults, they will likely "turn you off" if you express contempt for their lifestyle and impatience for them to act as you think they should. They don't want you to repeat their past hurts on them.

5. To be accepted, you as an adult will need to look them squarely in the eye and see there a spark of the divine as well as vast potential for them to become outstanding citizens.

6. To be accepted into their circle of acquaintances, you as an adult will need to be accepting of them as fellow human beings in need of lots of love and acceptance as a human being who has worth, open and genuine encouragement. Be gentle in your correction, willing to listen to their stories as well as sharing your own experiences and philosophy of life from which they can learn.

7. To relate to youth as a friend, you will need to appear friendly and cheerful. As a friend, you are not in charge of their correction. Correction must be left to the counselors, teacher, and staff at STAR Academy. To be accepted as a friend who cares, any corrective advice you give must be in the form of loving advice, not forced thought patterns nor forced activities.

8. They may not know how to understand your concern for them nor be able to "pick your brain" to interpret your world view which would cause you to want to come to STAR Academy, spend time with them, and share your thoughts with them.

9. In general, you will need to relate to them as an adult friend who is inviting yourself into their world, willing to give of your time, energy, & emotions to listen to them as well as sharing yourself with them without being judgmental nor assuming they are totally ignorant. You may be stretched beyond your comfort zone as you hear what has already taken place in their lives.

October 15, 2006, Don Klassen, encourager for a Y-2 Project
M-2 Program coordinator at SD State Penitentiary since 1978