News
Several months ago, I bought a vehicle that I had wanted for some time. I thought it was the perfect vehicle. However, I soon began to notice little things that bugged me. With my upgrade from a compact car to a sport-utility vehicle, it was immediately apparent that the SUV had horrible fuel economy.
Sadly, that was just the beginning.
As I ventured down the road with my new vehicle, I realized my perception of what I truly wanted in a vehicle might have been skewed. I began to obsess over how many miles I was driving and how much gas I was using. Each time I filled up the gas tank, I'd find myself wondering if we would ever get out of this recession and if I would be able to continue filling up on gas without checking my bank-account balance first.
Perception has the ability to shape direction and choices we make. Despite my love for this dream vehicle, or so I had thought, I began thinking that I may not have a clear understanding of the choice I made. A month later, the gas-guzzling SUV was sold.
How much does perception influence us, and how does it change how we view others? What other areas of our lives are influenced by
perceptions?
For example, what is the community's perception of youth in this valley?
Eagle River Youth Coalition is an organization that is devoted to helping youth, with a concentrated focus being to address the community's perception of our local youth.
Word on the street says that everyone does drugs. I hear rumors that it's rare to a find a student who hasn't smoked marijuana in his or her lifetime. Stories are rampant of students that have gotten away with underage drinking even in what is considered to be a “safe environment.”
If all of these are true, then we are living in some very dark and depressing times. Despondently, I can only imagine how these kinds of behaviors will be exemplified in an adult 20 years down the road.
Yet, all these things said above are based solely on perceptions.
In fact, my experience is that most youth I know don't do drugs. The youth I interact with have never tried marijuana.
The stories I hear are how disgusted students are when someone does something stupid with alcohol (and isn't that what most underage drinking is all about?!).
My perception is actually filled with a truly positive outlook on life and seeing students who want this world to be a better place. It is my hope that years later in these young lives, these same individuals will still be excited about life's opportunities and aren't caught up into addictive behaviors that harm themselves or harm others.
In fact, Eagle River Youth Coalition is changing our community's
percepperception of youth through objective and researched-based facts. In 2010, a communitywide survey was released called Healthy Kids Colorado Survey. This survey data shed light on actual youth behaviors, trends and
perceptions.
Findings show that:
• 81 percent of high school students did not smoke cigarettes in the past 30 days.
• 71 percent of high school students think it's wrong to cheat on tests or homework.
• 87 percent of high school students feel it's wrong or very wrong to sell or deal drugs.
• 88 percent of high school students think it is important to go to
college
In a middle school right here in Eagle County, we see an even better perception:
• 95 percent of these middle school students have never tried marijuana.
• 95 percent of these middle school students say it's important to go on to college.
• 96 percent of these middle school students say it is important to help other people.
Perceptions have the ability to shape the future and even shape the direction of the community. Your perception matters, not just on a local scale but even more globally.
Your perception of President Obama will likely influence your view of our nation. Your perception of the economy will shape the way you spend or save.
Your perception of yourself will shape the way you interact with other people. Undoubtedly, your perception of our youth in this valley will shape their future and, perhaps, even influence our future.
Perception has the ability to change direction, to change lives. Let's join with the Youth Coalition and start with our youth. Whether you see it or not, there are great things happening in the lives of young people all around us. Let's embrace a better perception of our youth, and let's help propel our youth in a positive, exciting new
direction!
Jason Platt is an Eagle River Youth Coalition board member.
Sadly, that was just the beginning.
As I ventured down the road with my new vehicle, I realized my perception of what I truly wanted in a vehicle might have been skewed. I began to obsess over how many miles I was driving and how much gas I was using. Each time I filled up the gas tank, I'd find myself wondering if we would ever get out of this recession and if I would be able to continue filling up on gas without checking my bank-account balance first.
Perception has the ability to shape direction and choices we make. Despite my love for this dream vehicle, or so I had thought, I began thinking that I may not have a clear understanding of the choice I made. A month later, the gas-guzzling SUV was sold.
How much does perception influence us, and how does it change how we view others? What other areas of our lives are influenced by
perceptions?
For example, what is the community's perception of youth in this valley?
Eagle River Youth Coalition is an organization that is devoted to helping youth, with a concentrated focus being to address the community's perception of our local youth.
Word on the street says that everyone does drugs. I hear rumors that it's rare to a find a student who hasn't smoked marijuana in his or her lifetime. Stories are rampant of students that have gotten away with underage drinking even in what is considered to be a “safe environment.”
If all of these are true, then we are living in some very dark and depressing times. Despondently, I can only imagine how these kinds of behaviors will be exemplified in an adult 20 years down the road.
Yet, all these things said above are based solely on perceptions.
In fact, my experience is that most youth I know don't do drugs. The youth I interact with have never tried marijuana.
The stories I hear are how disgusted students are when someone does something stupid with alcohol (and isn't that what most underage drinking is all about?!).
My perception is actually filled with a truly positive outlook on life and seeing students who want this world to be a better place. It is my hope that years later in these young lives, these same individuals will still be excited about life's opportunities and aren't caught up into addictive behaviors that harm themselves or harm others.
In fact, Eagle River Youth Coalition is changing our community's
percepperception of youth through objective and researched-based facts. In 2010, a communitywide survey was released called Healthy Kids Colorado Survey. This survey data shed light on actual youth behaviors, trends and
perceptions.
Findings show that:
• 81 percent of high school students did not smoke cigarettes in the past 30 days.
• 71 percent of high school students think it's wrong to cheat on tests or homework.
• 87 percent of high school students feel it's wrong or very wrong to sell or deal drugs.
• 88 percent of high school students think it is important to go to
college
In a middle school right here in Eagle County, we see an even better perception:
• 95 percent of these middle school students have never tried marijuana.
• 95 percent of these middle school students say it's important to go on to college.
• 96 percent of these middle school students say it is important to help other people.
Perceptions have the ability to shape the future and even shape the direction of the community. Your perception matters, not just on a local scale but even more globally.
Your perception of President Obama will likely influence your view of our nation. Your perception of the economy will shape the way you spend or save.
Your perception of yourself will shape the way you interact with other people. Undoubtedly, your perception of our youth in this valley will shape their future and, perhaps, even influence our future.
Perception has the ability to change direction, to change lives. Let's join with the Youth Coalition and start with our youth. Whether you see it or not, there are great things happening in the lives of young people all around us. Let's embrace a better perception of our youth, and let's help propel our youth in a positive, exciting new
direction!
Jason Platt is an Eagle River Youth Coalition board member.
