When I was a teenager, I changed my hair color. All the time. Bright red. Dark brown. Every so often I'd please my parents with a subtle blonde color. And, then, I'd change it again.
Somehow I still ended up getting voted in as a Student Government President.
When I was about to graduate from college, I had a journalism professor tell me that a television station would never want to hire me to be a reporter... because, as she put it "you just don't look like a smart person."
Somehow I ended up getting a job, as a reporter. On television. And, now I work at United Way.
This morning, when the Ad Council, the Community Asset Partner Network, and the Youth Services Quality Council of Rochester and Monroe County launched their new campaign "small talk big difference," it touched me.
This ad, shown above, is one of the ads you'll see in our community soon. It features a teenager in unique dress--who was elected student body president--so, of course it resonated with me...
The basic idea goes back to the golden rules - never judge a book by its cover. And, the call to action is for us, as grown-ups, is to engage children and teenagers by acknowledging them and talking with them.
Don't judge a kid by how they dress - or what they look like - just say hi. Do some small talk. You have no idea how meaningful it can be.
We've talked a lot about mentors, and how critical they are to development. If you don't have time to officially mentor, this is another way to reach out. Click here to visit the small talk big difference web site. You can read more about what you can do, and see the ads in action.
Somehow I still ended up getting voted in as a Student Government President.
When I was about to graduate from college, I had a journalism professor tell me that a television station would never want to hire me to be a reporter... because, as she put it "you just don't look like a smart person."
Somehow I ended up getting a job, as a reporter. On television. And, now I work at United Way.
This morning, when the Ad Council, the Community Asset Partner Network, and the Youth Services Quality Council of Rochester and Monroe County launched their new campaign "small talk big difference," it touched me.
This ad, shown above, is one of the ads you'll see in our community soon. It features a teenager in unique dress--who was elected student body president--so, of course it resonated with me...
The basic idea goes back to the golden rules - never judge a book by its cover. And, the call to action is for us, as grown-ups, is to engage children and teenagers by acknowledging them and talking with them.
Don't judge a kid by how they dress - or what they look like - just say hi. Do some small talk. You have no idea how meaningful it can be.
We've talked a lot about mentors, and how critical they are to development. If you don't have time to officially mentor, this is another way to reach out. Click here to visit the small talk big difference web site. You can read more about what you can do, and see the ads in action.
1 comment:
Super United Way Girl thinks that this young lady looks awesome! But she would look even better with a cape.
Seriously, though, why do many adults react so badly to kids that look different? I remember when I was a teen, and adults thought that the world was going to come to an end because girls were dressing like Cyndi Lauper... or a gothic vampire... or new wave (I STILL think that looks cool.)
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