Another definition of ‘Teenager’ - another voice to listen to

 

    1^st MIZY Youth Reporters expand the territories for teenagers to make an impact toward the world

As a teenager, I wondered what kind of impacts I can make in the world that I am living in. After a long period of thinking, I have always been disappointed with the fact that I am only a teenager. Because I am a teenager I believed that my power will be small and that there would not be people listening toward my words. However, as I started MIZY Youth Reporter program, my doubts about my abilities as a teenager has changed.

             The MIZY Youth Reporter program started in January of 2011. Through document screening and interviews, 15 teenagers of age between 15~24 were selected to grow as an active citizen of the global society. Every month each youth reporter wrote an article related with the international society. The articles varied from author interviews, international events, global campaigns, current events and etc. All of the articles contents differed from one another, yet all with the purpose to expand the territories as a teen journalist toward the global world.

             At first, I couldn’t tell that people were reading our articles. Yet, as more articles of the MIZY Youth Reporters are posted on the Mizy Tistory, it was clear that more people were visiting the website. With the start of about 40 people visiting the website, now over a hundred of people visit to read our articles and read other Mizy Center news. Also many more people have been responding to the articles by commenting on the articles and showing interests. My doubts about the effects that teenagers can make have slowly changed through my growing as a 21^st century citizen of the world. As I was coming to an end as the 1^st youth reporter of MIZY, I interviewed hundred teenagers varying from actively participating teenagers to timid teenagers. They were asked about how much of an impact that they can make toward the world currently as a teenager.

As shown above, 98% of teenagers themselves believe that they can make at least some kind of effect in the world. Personally, I have experienced that my words can be heard to other people and even though it might have only been a small impact, I am expanding the strengths to make bigger effects in the world. As many of the Youth Reporters of MIZY experienced the same kind of feeling as I did, I have interviewed ChoRok Lee, a junior at Dae-Won Foreign Language High School and a member of the 1^st MIZY Youth Reporter, about her experience as a youth reporter. She is a young but dedicated teenager that is actively participating in the global society. I decided to hear about her experience as a youth reporter on how it helped her to grow as a more active teenager. 

Photo credit to Mizy center

Q. How did you get to apply to a teen journalist at Mizy?

A. Hi. I have participated to writ e monthly English articles about international affairs and exchange as a member of MIZY Youth Reporters. I applied in January and after some orientation sessions we began writing the articles and upload them online, on the MIZY Tistory page. I was particularly interested in environmental issues and activities, so I wrote mostly about them as my theme throughout the year. My purpose in writing was to inform other fellow students who also have the same interest with me but is short in information where they could contribute their passion to. I thought not only could this activity benefit me by the means of improving article writing skills but also benefit those who are willing to search for their ways to specify their dreams and interest. And also officially writing a piece of an article gave me the sense of being the spokesperson of the contemporary affairs.

 

Q. What helped you grow as an active teenager while participating as a MIZY Youth Reporter?

A. Well the most obvious answer that is expected at this question is when someone read my article and was inspired by it and went ahead to dream of becoming a diplomat. But I remember I visited New York to attend the Youth Assembly in the United Nations. It was an international conference in August about MDGs and future roadmaps. I actually hoped to see Mr. Secretary General Ban but I was not lucky enough. But it was told that he peeked at us having a conference twice! Anyways I was able to interview numerous students and activists from all six continents and numerous of countries. It was the biggest breakthrough in my temporary career as a Mizy Youth Reporter.

MIZY Youth Reporters program surely is not the only program that is expanding the territories for teenagers to speak and be heard. There are many other programs launching or being progressed inside of MIZY Center and also outside. What is important is that many teenagers realize their power as a teenager and are actively participating in the society as a valued citizen. With realizing the importance of making one small effect at a time, MIZY Youth Reporters 2^nd has officially started. Through the baton touch from the 1^st youth reporters to the 2^nd, the MIZY Youth Reporters are starting on ground that the first reporters have opened. 1^st reporters duty was to open the ears of many people to hear our voices. Now I believe that the 2^nd   reporters' duties are to expand effects of voices of teenagers.