Teen Delegation group members engage in discussions on major issues dealing with teenagers in Europe.

Today was a very productive day for the ‘Distractonators;’ we were very busy focusing on our focus papers issues. Our main product became Young Adults (High School Students) being able to put out their voices and getting an echo back, rather than what the adult supervisors deciding what they will do. We defined the young adult opinions as a whisper rather than a voice.

As a group we collectively created a program to eliminate the adult ‘middle man’ process resulting in what we are interested in being expressed. This program, if allotted the five year requested trial program, is expected by the young adult delegates to directly reduce the amount of at-risk behavior.

The second discussion issue was about DoDEA accepting credits, when we were then informed that there was already a process for transferring students’ credit acceptance. Hopefully our outcome will be able to reduce many different levels within the high school setting on the ultimate road to graduation.

Personally we had a great accomplishment within our group today on a special case. One of the delegates in our focus group, a few years ago as a senior in Louisiana, became very sick. Her family then had to move to a new school system where the DODDEA system did not identify the policy of transferring credits. She had to retake classes, setting her back on getting a diploma, and today she turned 20. Mr. Toth, a DoDEA representative, heard her situation, was astounded, got a copy of her transcript and now she is going to be taken out of her access classes and possibly be allowed to graduate at the end of this year.

Together we feel very accomplished and believe that we will be able to convey the issues and improve in our areas now. I’m excited about the accomplishments ahead.

Brannon Niblock
MARFOREUR Teen Delegate