Steamboat Pilot & Today

Young people need a variety of people in their lives to nurture internal strengths and external supports, known as the 40 Developmental Assets. During the past two months, this series has covered each of the eight asset categories: Support, Constructive Use of Time, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies and Positive Identity. The asset concept is simple: the more assets a young person possesses, the greater his or her chances are of becoming a healthy, responsible and productive adult. Everyone can find ways to build assets in youths; taking advantage of these chances can shape young people's lives.

Garret Murchison, Hayden High School senior, is well on his way to being a caring and competent adult and is thankful for the people and experiences that have helped build his arsenal of assets. His dad gave him a positive attitude and a sense of humor, and from his mom he got his positive work ethic.

"You have to know how to work hard for what you want and need," says Garrett, who works on a ranch in the summer to save up for car payments and college. He says of his boss at the ranch, John Shaw, "He has helped me see my potential."

Garrett is committed to learning and to being a leader. He sets an example in school by retaking tests to get better grades and says, "If I have the ability to solve calculus, I know I can do anything." He also is courteous to his classmates, and like his veteran uncle who was a "fighter," Garrett stands up for what he believes in and doesn't tolerate when students get made fun of for their appearances.

"I know I want friends, so they must want friends, too. Everybody needs a friend," he says.

Garret also is a captain for his football and track teams, leading stretches every day and helping settle disputes between teammates. In his free time, he reads for pleasure nightly, which an adult friend got him into, and also volunteers with the Community Action Network. "Be all you can be. That's what I try to do," he says.

Garrett clearly is a young man who is supported, has positive adult role models, is empowered, can resolve conflict, constructively uses his time, has integrity, can plan and think positively about his future and is committed to school and justice for all. Young people come from every culture and possible familial background on earth. Although, the way the assets look in each life may vary vastly, the core needs remain; all people need internal strengths and external supports.

For healthy communities that support all children and youths, we need to build a culture where people and organizations feel connected, engaged, responsible and committed to young people. One way to do this involves shifts in thinking.

Communities and individuals who support the Developmental Assets have traits and habits including:

- Talk about positives and possibilities

- Focus on all young people, ages birth to 18

- Support an intergenerational community

- See youths as resources

- Are proactive about building strengths

- Claim personal responsibility

- Respect youths as actors in their own development

- Involve everyone in the lives of young people

- Create cooperative efforts

- Provide a consistent message about what is important

- Build a shared vision

- Hope

The most important messages about the developmental assets are that all young people need them, having more than 31 of the 40 is the most protective against high risk behavior and offer the most opportunities for youths to excel, and anyone can build them. Any interaction with a young person, either a random encounter in public or a lifelong relationship, provides the opportunity to make a difference in their life.

Whether that difference will be a positive one is up to you.