Vitally important for young people to vote

In America, when a person turns 18, they earn the right to vote for government officials. Because our government makes such a huge impact on our lives, it would be obvious for every person to vote, right?
Well, evidence suggests differently. In 2012, the state with the highest voter turnout was Minnesota, with only 75 percent of the eligible population voting. This percentage is high only because there was a presidential election that year. Even more shocking is the fact that only 58.5 percent of Americans age 18-24 votes, while 78.1 percent of Americans age 65-74 votes.

In 2012, only 56 percent of Noble County voted. These percentages decrease on years in which there is not a presidential election. It is vitally important for people — especially young people — to vote; we are the future of America.

So why don’t young people vote? Research suggests that many people feel that their vote will not make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Imagine if everyone felt this way. Nobody would ever vote.
Another reason that young people shy away from voting could be that they feel intimidated by voting. This could be caused by their perception of the government and all things political. Also, many young people are uneducated about politics. My suggestion is to do the research so you are informed about what is happening in the government that regulates our lives.

We have the right to vote because it is a way for the public to have a say in the government, which is what our country was founded on. People have died to protect our right to vote. So why wouldn’t you take advantage of this right?

So, make your voice heard this year in Noble County. The stakes are too high not to vote. On May 6, go to one of the eight new voting centers to make a difference in our community. Visit nobleco.squarespace.com/election-results to find out the location of voting centers in Noble County.

-Samantha Williams, MYAC City Council Representative

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS SUN, MARCH, 2014

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Internet ‘awesome’ but dangers lurk

The Internet has been around for quite some time. Depending on your definition, some might say it’s been around since the 1960s.
However, the Internet we’ve come to know and love (or hate) really didn’t come together until the mid to late 1990s, and early 2000s. As technologies advanced, the Internet’s potential skyrocketed. It wasn’t long until the introduction of social media began to attract teenagers.

With social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Tumblr practically dominating teenagers’ lives these days, it probably doesn’t surprise anyone that, according to iKeepSafe.org, teenagers spend up to 44.5 hours a week in front of some sort of screen.

Whilst there is no scientific evidence backing parents’ paranoia that prolonged electronic use could lead to temporary or permanent eye damage, the prolonged inactivity, and the lack of social skills that can result from being online far too often (as opposed to going out with friends or to social activities), can have bad consequences for a person’s mental and bodily health. According to a University of Michigan study, prolonged online activity on our favorite social media websites like Facebook can cause a lower sense of well being, and feelings of depression.

Whilst the Internet is a pretty awesome place — practically a knowledge goldmine — teenagers, and pretty much any age group, need to limit their use of the Internet. Not only can being online too often cause depression and a lower sense of well being, but it can also lead to erratic sleeping cycles. The light from computer monitors, cellphones, televisions, etc. suppresses the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin.

Electronics also induce a false sense of awareness. Whilst our bodies might be handling the effects of prolonged use of electronics today, excessive use of electronics and the Internet can lead to long-term health issues including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and insomnia.
The Internet might be fun, but it’s not worth it when you have to take five pills a day at 35 because of some bad lifestyle choices in your youth. An active lifestyle will decrease the probability of health issues as you age, and a social lifestyle will increase your probability of success in the real world where charisma and people-skills are so desperately needed.

-Zion Moulder, MYAC Historian and Secretary

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS SUN, FEBRUARY, 2014

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Smoking and drugs ruin lives and bodies

We all know that drugs and smoking aren’t good for your health. So why do people, specifically teenagers, do them, and why can’t they stop?

Well, coming from someone who has seen it happen and the effects it can cause, tobacco isn’t cool. It can kill. It can make your bronchial tubes clog up and can cause a layer of plaque buildup in your lungs. Heart attacks happen often as well. But the most common is cancer. Many people who have done drugs or who have smoked have cancer.

Click here to find out more!

It’s not like you can just stop doing drugs or smoking. It’s not that easy. But it’s not your fault. Maybe you started because you wanted to fit in, or maybe because you were bored. But now you can’t stop. That’s because of the nicotine.

Nicotine is a chemical that makes tobacco addictive. Your body adapts to this chemical and after a few hours of smoking, you need to smoke more to feel normal — the same with drugs. There are also many other weird chemicals in tobacco. There is Acetone, which is in nail polish. Ammonia, which is in household cleaners. And formaldehyde, which they use to preserve humans before they are buried at death.

Smoking and drugs ruin lives and bodies. Don’t let them ruin yours.

If you smoke or do drugs, there are many people who can help. Although it is hard, it is possible. There are many counselors who are willing to help you just like they have others. It might be embarrassing but if you want to stay healthy then you need to look into this option.

I’m not here to tell you what to do, but to help. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. Stay healthy and safe!

-Hailey Meyer 

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS SUN, JANUARY, 2014

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MYAC focuses on community improvement, increased understanding, youth involvement

When asked to compose an article by the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council about the many issues that face the teenage community today, my mind was flooded with an almost infinite amount of writing possibilities. I feel that I might come across as ignorant or “disconnected” if I forget to include one of the many issues I feel we teens face today. What can I say? There is nothing more complex in the universe than the teenager, besides maybe the universe itself. OK, maybe that’s an over exaggeration, but we’re still pretty complex.

I find there to be many issues amongst my fellow teens that aren’t always addressed, such as bullying, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, dating abuse/violence — not to mention the abhorrent language displayed by my peers on a day-to-day basis.

It’s very sad to see a generation that has so much potential, put themselves down by the means of using such illiterate and ignorant words. Not to forget the use of the words that aren’t necessarily meant to be used as an insult such as “gay” or “homo.” I find these two words to be very prominent in many teenage vocabularies today. I don’t think teenagers understand how they come across to some people when they use such words. Words can make you come across as a person of intellect and knowledge, or they can make you out to be some teenage hooligan that won’t amount to anything.

I leave you with a promised article next month by another member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. (kendallvillemyac.org)

-Zion Moulder, MYAC Secretary and Historian

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS SUN, NOVEMBER, 2013.

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