The strongest way to lead, Shantel Wright believes, is by example. As a peer adviser and member of the Pleasant Grove High School student council, the 17-year-old involves herself in causes that are important to her and hopes to inspire others to do the same.
"Once you know who you are and what you're going to be, you can go so far. Others see your strength and your confidence, (and) they want that for their own lives," Wright said after picking up her certificate of completion for the 2006 Utah Youth Summit.
Nearly 100 teenagers attended the three-day conference this month. The conference was held at the University of Utah and sponsored by the Utah Commission on Volunteers. Now in its eighth year, the summit seeks to teach leadership skills and empower youths to make a difference in their individual communities.
Each youth paid $75 to attend the conference, which covered two full days of workshops, group sessions and service projects, as well as housing in U. dormitories, food and social events. The teens, who came from across the state, learned about the summit through school or outside volunteer projects.
"I think these kids rise above and beyond the normal teenage stereotype who think about the world around them instead of just themselves," said Stephanie Brown, a youth service ambassador for the Utah Commission on Volunteers.
A recent study by the Corporation for National and Community Service ranked Utah as No. 1 in the nation for volunteerism. Young adults in Utah nearly doubled the national average, with 45 percent volunteering in their communities.
The summit concluded with a keynote address from Utah first lady Mary Kaye Huntsman. Huntsman's "Power in You" program targets the emotional aspects, risks and challenges of being a teenager.
The first lady spoke about her own experiences growing up and encouraged conference attendees to use their own inner strength to accomplish great things.
"She had a great message to share about . . . how youth aren't the problem, they're the solution," Brown said.
It's a message that resonated with Wright. "You can be strong as a youth, and you can lead the way."
E-mail: awelling@desnews.com