The hope of a better society and a better world. One of the many things that Gene Roddenberry gave us  with Star Trek was a glimpse of a future for Earth that was free of many of the things that plague us today, including poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Right now, it seems that we are very far away from that idealistic future, but I experienced something this week that reminded me that every person can take steps towards helping bring about this future.

I was privileged to have the opportunity to escort several students from my old high school to the Kentucky State Capital in Frankfort, KY. One group of students, from the JROTC department, was even given the unique experience of acting as pages during legislative sessions of both the state House and Senate. All of the students got to witness firsthand our state government in action, and they seemed genuinely excited to see the bills be passed, and to meet with a legislator from our district, state House of Representatives member Tim Moore. Students had done research and prepared information about the capital and legislature, as well as questions for Mr. Moore, making this more than your average “field trip”.

Mr. Moore took time out of his busy day to meet with our group. Now, skeptics may say that he did this because that is what a politician does, especially if he is looking to be re-elected soon. After hearing him speak to the group, and meeting with him briefly afterward, I believe that he is one of the (all-too few) politicians that truly wants to make a difference in all facets of our community and sincerely believes that young people are crucial. He believes in the “ABCs” of leadership: A willingness to serve, be Bold in what you are doing, and have a Clarity of vision.

A willingness to serve; step up and take a shot. I'm not saying that everyone has to become a politician, but we can all be leaders, by simply taking pride in our community and helping to make it better. If you believe in something, then find a way to further that cause. Maybe that's raising money for a homeless shelter, participating in a “walk” or “race” or similar event for disease research, or even just picking up a piece of litter you find.

Be bold in what you are doing; don't hide your efforts. This is not to say that you should toot your own horn and do things for the glory, but never be ashamed about it either. Too many people don't want to be seen as supporting things, but if it is worth supporting, then do so boldly. If you find you cannot, then perhaps you need to re-evaluate your support. Reminds me of another wise saying, “Do or do not...there is no try.”

Have a clarity of vision; determine your goal, clearly see it, and work towards it. Sometimes you have to have short term goals in order to reach more sweeping goals, but the concept is still the same. Be clear at each step, and don't let yourself get distracted by other issues and other people who may turn you from your charted course.

Mr. Moore has defined his personal path as becoming a politician, but everyone can find their own path while still being leaders. He commended both the students and the adults in our group as being leaders. Those students have taken the first of many steps towards becoming the community leaders of tomorrow, in whatever area they choose. This is not just by making the choice to go on the trip, but by choosing to make the most of the education they are receiving at their school. As for the adults, we have made the choice to support those students and all of our youth by helping to provide opportunities such as this. “Choose wisely”...while a particular situation may not be life or death, all of our choices are important.

The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. This is not a new concept, but it is something that many of us forget. So many times, we dismiss them as being “kids” and therefore not important. While they cannot vote, drive, or do many other things that older society members can do, they are vital, and it is up to all of us to help insure that they become the leaders and productive adults that will shape our future. That's right, I said all of us. So many people believe that falls to teachers and parents only, and that could not be farther from the truth. Another familiar concept is “It takes a community to raise a child.” My belief is that the community that a child lives in does shape and mold the child, thus they become a product of that community. I am lucky, because I live in a community where not only the school system provides experiences like the one above, but also that we have civic groups that seek to help our children.

So, back to something I said earlier – every person can help. Find a way to become a leader in your community. Personally, I want to recommend finding or starting an organization in your community that has a specific goal of helping our youth and get involved. Not only will you be helping your community now, but you will be shaping those will take on that role in the future.

(Shameless plug: One such organization is Optimist International. Check out www.optimist.org for information. There are other similar organizations, and I encourage everyone to research and find the one that is right for you and your community.)