The Young Leader

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Be Bold! How to Win an Argument with your Parents (for the Right Reason!)

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“Go ask your mother.” It’s a phrase many teens may hear from their fathers when it comes to asking for something they want. Sometimes, the answer from mom is a quick no. If you’re ready to start winning arguments and getting more of what you want, for good, follow these simple tips.

Show Your Evidence

If you really want to persuade your parents, you’re going to have to present some cold hard facts. It’s likely that they’ll want complete information about what you’re trying to persuade them of. Do your homework and be ready to give it to them during your argument.

Be Confident

Confidence is key. If you really want something, show it with confidence. We suggest talking slowly and calmly and recommend planning out your argument before you talk to your parents.

Stay On Topic

State your case and stay on topic throughout your entire argument. Don’t bring up circumstances where they have said “yes” before or if they’ve allowed one of your brothers or sisters to do something similar in the past. Keep on point and don’t get distracted.

Be Calm

If the first thing that your parents say is no, you’re probably not feeling calm on the inside. However, to best win an argument you must stay calm. You’re not going to win an argument by shouting.

Listen

Part of winning an argument is being a respectful listener. Even if you don’t agree with your parents reasoning, be respectful and let them share their own thoughts before you continue to share yours.

Test Out Your Argument

Before you take your argument to your parents, test it out on your friends or even your siblings to see if they notice any holes in it. They can give you feedback and pose questions for your to answer similar to what your parents may ask.

Contributed by Lauren Topor

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Seven Things Teens Who Want to Work in Medicine Should Do Before College

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So you know you want to enter the medical field, but right now, you’re “just” a high school student. What can you do? Well, there are several ways you can prepare for your medical career right now, and here are seven of them:

1. Investigate. While you may not know yet exactly what you want to become, try to narrow your search to a certain field, like cardiology or dietetics. Then research it (a lot). The field of medical careers is vast, so try to get specific now.

2. Learn to balance. “[A]nother big thing is to try to start building good study habits and time management skills…,” says one student beginning an intensive medical program. Health-related careers are rewarding, but it takes a lot of hard work and time. So, learning when to study and when to relax will be a great habit to develop now.

3. Grades… Grades shouldn’t consume your soul, but they can be important if you’re looking at medical programs. Try your best to succeed in your classes; the hard work will pay off later.

4. College-hunt now. Here’s where those grades can pay off. Research different colleges, medical schools and programs, and see what it will take to get into your favorite ones. Keep those schools in mind so that you can have a goal and a dream to work towards.

5. Chat with some role models. Befriend someone who has experience in a health career, preferably in the field you are interested in. Ask them about their stories and get tips on how to prepare for med school and internships. Your role model could very well become your best friend as you prepare for college.

6. Become a shadow. No, not literally, but you will be like a shadow. Find out what a career in health will be like by taking advantage of job shadow opportunities. Follow doctors and nurses and even get to help them. Not only will you be getting experience (which will look good on a resume) but you’ll also get a chance to see if becoming a medical professional is what you want to pursue.

7. Volunteer! Gain even more experience. Help out with blood drives; start disease-awareness campaigns at your school; visit people in hospitals and nursing homes. You could even help international communities improve their health through options like Global Leadership Adventures public health programs! These medical programs for high school students are designed to show you the way traditional health care blends with western-style care in developing countries. There are countless opportunities to volunteer, and you will be advancing your medical career and doing what you love to do: helping other people.

Do you have more tips to prepare for a medical career? Share them in your comments! We’d love to hear from you.

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Contributed by Addie Davis

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End of Summer Trips for Backpacking Teens

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As summer comes to an end there is still time to go on one more adventure to see the world. Here’s a list of places to backpack in the upcoming weeks, some of them require traveling abroad while others are right in your own backyard. Whether you’re able to hike one of them or more, add the rest to your list! So grab a friend and your gear and get out there.

  1. Costa Rica. There are too many places in Costa Rica to just pin point one. But when there, check out Corcovado National Park with their amazing waterfalls, or better yet hike down one of their many volcanoes. The park is popular with several teen volunteer programs in Costa Rica due to its environmental preservation and world-renowned beauty.
  2.  If backpacking around the world is something on the bucket list then take a trip to Peru. Hike the classic Gringo Trail or explore the jungle and see the wild life in the Amazon Basin. Be sure to check out the famous tourist site Machu Picchu, an Incan city. While it is not a place to back pack, it is still a sight to see!
  3. Speaking of popular trails, walk the El Camino de Santiago. This trail goes from France to Spain and is fairly easy to backpack. Most of the trail is flat and there is always the option to buy a meal every so many miles.
  4. If backpacking in your own backyard sounds like something that can be done within the next few weeks then head to Mt. Whitney in California. It is the tallest mountain in the world within the lower 48 states and is commonly climbed in the Sierra Nevada. Just think of the view when you reach the top!
  5. Once you get done backpacking Mt. Whitney, drive a little ways and backpack around Yosemite National Park! There are multiple trails to choose from, great places to star gaze at night, and even the option to river raft.
  6. Another trail that has waterfalls and lots of greenery is the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii. While it’s a short trail to back pack, the views make it worth it. Not to mention that the trail ends on the beach; what a great way to relax and catch those rays.

Contributed by Samantha Watkins

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Teen Volunteer Who Shook Things Up

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When you want to pick up a new book, the decisions that go through your mind probably are limited to do you want to read your book on your Kindle or in paperback or which book on the summer reading list looks like the shortest option. However, have you ever wondered how you would make that choice if you didn’t have access to any books at all?

When Ryan Trainer, started volunteering at his local library in Redwood City, all he originally thought about was reading to children for a Boy Scout merit badge. Yet as his reading sessions went on, he quickly understood that ”one of the things that really makes a tremendous difference in developing early reading skills…is the presence of books in the home” Ryan recently told Good Morning America. Thus at the ripe young age of 11, Ryan began to organize book drives to help increase young student’s access to reading materials. Over the course of 6 months, Ryan’s efforts led to the donation of 25,000 books that were shipped out to 12 charities, 8 schools, and 7 literacy programs.

Though 25,000 books would be a great success for anyone, Ryan decided he wanted to do more and recruited more teens to help gather more resources in the fight to improve literacy rates in his local community. Now, not only has Ryan’s efforts led to the creation of new chapters of his youth literacy council, but young students now also benefit from math, science and financial literacy classes.

In the end, Ryan just wants to remind everyone that in order to make a difference “it really only takes one person. The Truth”.

If you want to learn more about Ryan’s accomplishment, check out his Good Morning America profile here.

Contributed by Matt Zonis

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Teen Athlete Dominates in Wheelchair Tennis

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Conner Stroud is not your average tennis player. The 15-year-old athlete from North Carolina has proximal femoral focal deficiency, or PFFD. People impacted by this rare condition are born without legs.

In spite of his disability, Conner has defied all odds by becoming one of the best junior wheelchair tennis players in the world. His wheelchair is fully-equipped with a built-in security strap for himself, a back pocket for holding his racquet, and spokes for storing tennis balls.

Conner is currently the top-ranked junior wheelchair tennis player here in the U.S. He’s even played in several tournaments overseas. At home, the successful sophomore is a starter for his high school tennis team. Although he’s confined to his wheelchair, Conner still has the courage to compete against able-bodied players. Last season, he even held the No. 3 rank on his team.

Even though he loses many of these school matches, Conner’s positive attitude and competitive spirit keep his passion alive for the sport. He’s still a reigning champ in the world of wheelchair tennis. His perseverance and remarkable hand-eye coordination have enabled him to accomplish extraordinary feats in the game.

This summer, Conner was just one of three teens chosen to represent the U.S. in the biggest junior wheelchair tennis team competition in the world: The World Team Cup. Throughout the event, he participated in six games, which were all held in Turkey. Conner won five of these matches.

Aside from wheelchair tennis, Conner spent several years competing against able-bodied players. He would show up to these matches on rubber stoppers, which he attached to the stumps of his legs. Nevertheless, Conner still managed to beat a few of his opponents.

His tremendous talents have even been recognized by tennis legends. In 2013, Conner got a chance to practice with some of the best players in the sport, including Andy Roddick and Jim Courier. He even got to meet with his favorite player, Rafael Nadal.

After meeting with Conner, Nadal made the following statement to reporters: “He’s playing tennis. That’s a great example that you can be happy even if life doesn’t give you everything. It’s a big example for me and should be a big example for a lot of people.”

Contributed by Nedda Grady

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