Kern County Superintendent of Schools - Web page feature

March 3, 2010 by sttalbot  

Going by just sheer numbers, the 11th annual Leaders in Life Youth Conference held at the Rabobank Concert on March 2 in Bakersfield was a huge success. Approximately 1,600 middle and high school age students living in the central valley and on the southern California coast attended – more than ever before. Amazingly, it is, just as the name says, truly a youth conference. All of the planning, promoting, publicity and event logistics was done by a group of about 100 teens on the Leaders in Life Committee, meeting twice a month to make it happen. Appropriately, the theme for the conference was “Can You Hear Our Rising Voices,” as the event was all about youth helping youth.

“I used to wonder what I could do in life,” said Leaders in Life Committee member Alejandro Mariscal from North High School. “This conference has all the important information to help every teen follow his or her desires. The turnout is amazing. I feel great knowing my peers are learning, and it makes me feel good about myself, that I helped.”

Leaders in Life is a nonprofit School-Community Partnership program administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools with support from numerous local businesses, agencies and organizations. Students are selected to participate by counselors at their schools, who recognize the leadership potential in each. During the process of planning and presenting the conference, members learn important leadership skills.

Committee members raised money for the conference with a banquet held just five days before the event. But, they knew by the pre-registration numbers that it would be a full house at the conference. During the 8 a.m.-2 p.m. conference, attendees heard from motivational speakers, attended their choice of 30 breakout sessions featuring subjects relevant to teens, and received useful information about college, community resources and substance abuse at a vendor’s fair.

Bakersfield Police Officer Danny Wells introduced students attending the “A Life Interrupted” workshop to the harsh realities of reckless and drunk driving.

The whole day was about networking and bonding especially during lunch where everyone was brought together on the expansive convention center stage to informally discuss what the day had meant to them.

Maria Perez, a student at Haven Drive Middle School, remarked how profoundly she had been affected by a workshop called “A Life Interrupted.” Presented by Bakersfield Police Officers Rex Davenport and Danny Wells, it featured visual graphics and poignant commentary about real life victims, giving a sobering account of the dangers of reckless and drunk driving.

“Hearing how many people were killed by other people who had been drinking and driving made me realize how entire families were affected by the tragedies, too,” said Perez.