For many, the task of naming the most significant workday or defining moment in the course of a career might seem daunting if not impossible. For me, it was April 22, 2002. I was in California with a group of teens attending a leadership conference sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  It was just a few hours before the conference was to begin, and our group was enjoying some free time at Venice Beach. As the waves crashed upon my feet, I watched proudly, as the group happily played football, flew kites, and enjoyed the sunshine. It was at moment, when I realized that being a youth development leader is who I am, not what I do.

​

It wasn't being at the beach, or being 3000 miles away in California, or being out of the office for a few days.  It was something much deeper. I was moved by the accomplishment of the 18 teenage leaders who spent the entire year hosting fundraising events, designing community service and leadership projects and getting educational support to achieve the benchmarks necessary to qualify to attend the conference.

​

As I reflect upon this wonderful experience, I see that it encompassed three essential components of high-quality youth development leadership. First, the program was youth led:  all of the decisions that were made leading up to the actual trip were not made by the adults, they were made with adult guidance but ultimately, the program was driven by youth. I firmly believe that youth can accomplish just about anything with proper guidance.

Secondly, the teens involved were not simply given a nice opportunity, they had to work hard to attend the trip. Participants were presented with a challenging opportunity which required each of them to utilize their talents to their fullest. The adult leaders involved could not do the work for them, they were merely involved to provide ongoing support and guidance.

Finally, this program required the youth development staff involved to develop relationships with not only the teens' parents but also school professionals to make sure that all of the academic requirements were met. Two nights before we departed, we held a parent meeting to discuss the agenda for the trip. The event became almost a "victory party", as the parents were incredibly proud of what they accomplished.

​

The moment on the beach was a launching point for my career as a youth development leader.  In the fourteen years since that day, I have been dedicated to providing challenging programs for youth and support for the youth development professionals who serve them daily.  I firmly believe that by providing a well supported "push" from a youth development leader, youth and youth development professionals can achieve great things.

​

​