A fond farewell to Youth Are Awesome

Almost two years ago, in May of 2011, I decided to try something new. I emailed Youth Central to inquire about how one could sign up to blog for Youth Are Awesome. I figured this would be a good opportunity to develop my skills and have some fun doing it. More than 50 blogs later, I can say with utmost confidence that it was an excellent decision.

These past two years with Youth Are Awesome have been an enriching experience. I’ve gotten the chance to meet some awesome people, including the Weasley twins at last year’s Comic & Entertainment Expo, famed comic creator Stan Lee, and Toronto band Polarity. I’ve been given the opportunity to blog for the likes of the Calgary Herald and the Huffington Post on a variety of topics, which was pretty cool. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve been exposed to the awesomeness youth have to offer. YAA has connected me to some people doing some amazing things – my fellow bloggers have traveled the world, created inspirational charitable campaigns, and even founded globally published magazines. My peers have shown me the immense potential that people my age possess and have driven me to follow my passions with greater resolve than ever before.

Looking back at my old posts, I can see how much I’ve grown. It’s funny to see the gradual evolution of my writing style; the growing use of bigger, fancier words, and the development of my personal beliefs. I’ve tried to offer a bit of mix in terms of what I write, but I’ve had a tendency to write about controversial issues. Only now am I realising that writing for YAA actually helped me understand myself a little better. At the risk of sounding like your high school English teacher, writing is somewhat cathartic. Spilling thoughts onto paper (or MS Word now…) helps point you in the direction of your own belief system, something I think is important, and I appreciate the role YAA has played in my journey of self-discovery.

However, all good things come to an end. As I begin to focus on university, case competitions, conferences, and travel, I am noticing that I am no longer able to keep up the commitment that YAA demands (and deserves). Before I go, however, I want thank a few people that have been instrumental in this journey of mine. Jen Atkinson, the editor of YAA when I originally signed up, was a huge help. She gave me innumerable tips about writing, provided heads ups about a TON of opportunities that couldn’t be refused, offered valuable feedback when it was needed, and a proverbial pat on the back when it was deserved.

When Jen left on maternity leave, Michelle Kemball picked up right where Jen left off, offering valuable mentorship and news of opportunities when they arose. Even when commitments weren’t being met, Michelle remained flexible and found ways to solve issues in a constructive manner. YAA is definitely in good hands moving forward.

Lastly, Andrew Phung deserves a huge shout out. The mastermind behind Youth Central during my time with the organisation, Andrew exudes  enthusiasm and passion for youth volunteerism. He treats all of us with the utmost respect and has been unbelievably classy whenever I’ve talked to him. Youth Central is an incredible organisation with a message that I wholly support – if you aren’t involved with it, I strongly recommend fixing this ASAP. For me, however, this is adiós, amigos.