Youth Spotlight: Hannah Litt has a passion for teaching art
Mountain Youth
Special to the Daily
Don’t be afraid to reach out — kind and wise words spoken by the thoughtful Hannah Litt, a senior at Battle Mountain High School, and April’s youth spotlight. When asked what her passions and goals are, Hannah has a very solid focus on helping others and sharing her love of art.
Hannah reaches out to others through volunteering and looks forward to receiving her degree in teaching art from Miami University in Ohio. Hannah has been connected with Miami University after doing a summer program there last year and staying connected here at home through a diversity and leadership program focused on creating a more inclusive learning environment for everyone who attends that campus.
Hannah’s life pursuit is to help children become the most literate they can be and she believes this comes through the arts and using it to reinforce all types of learning, especially for those not engaged in the classroom. She has found, through her own experience of mental illness, that art has been a tool that has helped her learn to cope. It has been a great outlet to help her address her struggles and helped her become the person she is today, a unique and gifted leader.
Hannah would like to see more mental health advocacy and outreach for youth and believes that we’re getting there through community efforts. Through all that she has learned — and what she hopes others learn — is that there is support out there. “Don’t be afraid to reach out because you’re not alone,” she said.
Hannah is part of National Honors Society, Battle Mountain’s drama program, many volunteer efforts, and is a member of the youth executive board that oversees the Valley’s Voice youth leadership and advocacy program. Valley’s Voice facilitates youth-led passion projects that result in positive community change. All projects are youth proposed, led, and achieved.
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Hannah became a part of Valley’s Voice and Mountain Youth by volunteering at a community event and offering her face-painting services. She was invited to learn more and get involved and she has leaped at the opportunity, creating many lasting positive changes in our community in a short amount of time. Mountain Youth staff member Sandy shared, “Alongside all of the volunteering that Hannah has done with Mountain Youth, she has also contributed her creativity and leadership to Valley’s Voice. Her commitment to youth issues is evidenced in the dedication she has to this leadership group.”
Hannah’s humbleness, service, and thoughtfulness for others has and will continue to make her a great leader throughout her life. She shared with me a childhood memory about fishing with her brother and father and a comical scenario of two young children holding a fish that was way too big for them and a dad jumping in to help.
I asked her why she shared this memory and she said it reminds her of a time before all the stress of adolescence and adulthood unveils. It also reminds her that the little things in life can bring great happiness and help families come together.
During this time of social distancing and a time of great anxiety for many, Hannah shares that it’s a change she thinks we can all do. She wanted to remind everyone that if you feel lonely, don’t be afraid to reach out to others over the internet or through technology.
Social distancing is hard, and it’s ok that it’s hard, but use it to stay connected to friends and family and laugh about the little things in your day. She also encourages youth to get involved virtually. Reach out to peers to see how you can help them or reach out to Valley’s Voice to see what projects need help at valleysvoice.org.
Hannah reminds us to find our hobbies, use art, reach out to others, and remain connected because through our collective leadership we will be there for each other and learn to cope.