Do's and Don'ts

Positive Youth Development is about young people in the "driver's seat" of their learning and life. PYD--just like being able to drive a car and go places--is exciting, but it also requires responsibility. In PYD, young people have the responsibility to take action in their lives. That means being an active learner, taking advantages of the opportunity that comes your way, and working effectively with the adults in your life. Being in the drivers of one's life can be fun, but it is also hard work. This section is about good things to do, and things to avoid as a young person who believes in and practices PYD.

One of the first important steps in PYD is to see yourself as a leader and just as capable as the the adults that you are working with. It is also important to think about working in collaboration. When young people and adults come together as collaborators they are able to show respect and work together better. As a youth, remember you can learn from the people you are working with and you can teach them things. It is not a competition, everyone has skills and when we learn to share them we can get the most out of what we have.