Young People

Knowing of infection was disturbing Before reading the article about the meningitis scare at Crescenta Valley High School ("Meningitis scare at school," Wednesday) I had no idea what meningitis was. It's alarming to discover that not only is it a very serious infection that can be fatal, but there is a case of this dangerous condition at a nearby school. It's frightening to know that something so harmful is threatening students at the school that I just graduated from four years ago. I remember the faculty at CV always being very responsible and considerate when it came to serious matters, so I am sure that the students are being taken care of in the best way possible.

One of my best Christmas presents came early this year. It was a reminder of the blessings of living in our community of Glendale. It was reassurance that the future will be in the hands of competent young people who have a passion for a timeless value -- beauty. On Dec. 7, the Glendale Youth Orchestra performed its first concert of the 2004-05 season. Inspired by a young but talented cellist Shigeko Landin, who lives across the street, I was at the Alex Theatre to hear the concert.

Young adults with a desire to help preserve nature can apply now with the California Conservation Corps. Corpsmembers work to protect natural resources and serve as emergency response forces. Work ranges between building trails, to filling sandbags and laying down protective plastic after a levee break in the San Joaquin Delta. No experience is necessary and corpsmembers are guaranteed a 40-hour workweek. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 23. Corpsmembers can earn their high school diplomas and college credits in the program.

Gary Moskowitz The Glendale Unified School District, with the help of grant funds, is going to get "madd" this year. The district this month will apply for a $4,000 grant from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and plans to use the funds to create a new youth program in local high schools that will focus on creating student alcohol awareness campaigns and providing group support sessions for students. Grant funds will be used to create Youth in Action programs -- youth advocacy projects designed to provide opportunities, recognition and financial support -- for local high school students.

Darleene Barrientos With jobs scarce in a soft economy, some young people have turned to volunteer work as a way to fill the time between school and a career -- and help people, too. Kelly Clancy, 21, plans to attend the University of Georgia to study equine medicine. In the meantime, volunteering with the AmeriCorps at the Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross has been fun and rewarding, she said. "I really enjoy doing service work," Clancy said.

KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN This past weekend, I had the honor of performing a wedding for a couple who grew up in my youth group when I was a youth pastor. The young man has regularly attended church and the young lady was someone who knew nothing of a relationship with Christ -- until she came to one of our youth rallies. There, she met the man she would marry and found faith in our youth group. Six years have passed, and it was a tremendous blessing to pronounce them husband and wife after witnessing their struggles as adolescents.

Reader Robert Morrison's recent letter to the News-Press gave me one of the biggest laughs I've had in a long time. It's always fun to hear older people who grew up in better times lecture the rest of us about how hard they worked and how much they were able to acquire from an economic system that bears little resemblance to conditions as they exist today. Rather than be outraged by Ken Carlson's stance on rent control, Mr. Morrison should consider himself lucky that he and his apparently resourceful children are not starting out in life.

Janine Marnien Charles and Jeanne Broberg spent two years in Kiev teaching college-age students while also learning about Ukrainian culture. The Brobergs returned this month from their mission to the Eastern European country, where they combined their teaching responsibilities with administering health services to younger missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple will speak about their experience today at the regular meeting of the noon Kiwanis Club of La Canada.

I have been sharing a message to churches and youth groups around our community titled, "Are You a History Maker?" This message has been on my heart for a long time because I am completely convinced that just one teen can positively change history. Young people have the whole world before them and their entire lives to make a difference. If a teenager can truly grasp that their decisions can benefit their lives and the lives of others, it may help them to think about their choices.