New Generation Faces the Issues : UCI Summer Program Stresses Dedication to the Community

At times, the intractable problems that we live with day to day seem enough to wear down even the most idealistic and resolute adults. The issues of race and gender bias, childhood poverty, conflict over immigration and violence within the family are just some of the more vexing questions of our times that seem to defy our best efforts to find solutions. It might be unsurprising if many young people coming along simply found all this too much and chose rather to focus on their own goals.

The encouraging news coming out of the Knowledge and Social Responsibility Program this summer at UC Irvine is that a new generation of high school leaders is actually energized by these problems. Sponsored by the National Conference, and in its 12th year in Orange County, the 10-day course earlier this month took some of the best and brightest of this year’s incoming senior classes from 27 local high schools and submerged them into 15-hour days. The goal was to develop critical thinking skills and resources for addressing these problems.

The students attended workshops conducted by university professors, and they took field trips. The final goal was to come up with community service projects to implement upon return to their regular routines.

One student, 17-year-old Bia Myung, acknowledged that she was skeptical when she checked in, but eventually was sold on the program when she discovered the degree to which participants listened to each other and respected their opinions. It is encouraging indeed to have fresh minds turning to these difficult problems, and especially heartening to learn of the importance that the young people place on learning and listening.

The National Conference’s current newsletter reports that the program’s most difficult task was selecting the 50 participants from the pool of applicants. The payoff is that the county has an indication that a new generation is not preoccupied only with getting and acquiring, but has a talent base committed to developing its sense of social obligation and dedication to the larger community.

That some of the best minds coming along are being turned in this direction is a welcome sign. The program deserves the community’s thanks and encouragement for future sessions.