One of the benefits of being an active Orono High School swim team booster is that I get to renew my relationships with former students and I get to know other students. Brandy Mitchell is one of those students I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.

Brandy is a junior at Orono High School. She has always struck me as thoughtful and friendly, and as being able to maintain a strong sense of self in the midst of her teen years.

My assessment of her character recently was confirmed by the Penobscot Nation. The tribe selected Brandy to represent it in Close-Up American Indian Youth Summit, in conjunction with the United South and Eastern Tribes Impact Week. This weeklong event took place in Washington, D.C., in February and creates lifelong experiences.

The Close Up Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizenship education organization. Its motto is “Creating Citizens For Life,” which it has been doing through educational programs for more than 20,000 students, teachers and other interested adults each year since 1971. The foundation Web site at www.closeup.org/aboutcuf.htm lists four areas of programming:

. Washington-based civic educational programs for students in grades six to 12.

. The 30th anniversary edition of Current Issues, the nation’s leading supplemental social studies text.

. A studentcentric TV show, “Close Up at the Newseum,” aired weekly on C-SPAN since 1979.

. The “First Vote” classroom-based voter education and registration program.

The American Indian Youth Summit was held this year the week of Feb. 10-16. American Indian teens from multiple tribes gathered to participate in an intensive learning experience. The week coincided with United Southern and Eastern Tribes Impact Week. United South and Eastern Tribes’ mission is to promote strength in unity within and among the tribes by “promoting Indian leadership, improving the quality of life for American Indians, and protecting Indian rights and natural resources on tribal lands. Although its guiding principle is unity, USET plays a major role in the self-determination of all its member tribes by working to improve the capabilities of tribal government,” according to its Web site at www.usetinc.org.

So how does this relate to a young American Indian in Maine?

Brandy isn’t quite sure why or how she was chosen to help represent the Penobscot Nation. One day at Orono High School, she was called to the guidance office. There, Ty Robertson, the guidance counselor at Indian Island School, asked Brandy whether she would be willing to represent the tribe. Surprised and honored, Brandy agreed – and said she would “definitely” participate again if the opportunity presented itself.

When I asked Brandy about any challenges she faced during this program, she said, “Well, the major challenge was not knowing many people there, but I quickly got over that and had a lot of fun.”

She participated in activities that provided her with knowledge of how the federal and tribal governments work as well as how to effect change.

“I learned a lot there,” said Brandy. “I learned that youth do have a voice in their tribes; it just depends on if they want to use it or not. I learned about the legislative process and how to come up with new ideas and present them to people in a manner that would make them want to listen. I learned how to be more confident when approaching people and presenting my ideas and not to be so shy.”

For Brandy, “the most amazing part of the experience was meeting different people from tribes all over the South and East coast, and getting to learn about their tribes and the problems they face and hearing their stories.”

Participating in leadership development programs has benefits far beyond the classroom. Effective programs do not have to involve weeks away from school; they can be as embedded in daily school life as student councils and clubs whose mission is to give youths the opportunities to develop and practice leadership skills.

Local programs are just as important as regional, state and national programs, and in some ways they are more important because of the sheer number of kids they affect. On the other hand, the lucky few who are able to participate in programs that put our students in new places and expand their thinking bring parts of their experience back and enrich their communities. With that in mind, Brandy and I talked about how her participation will affect her life.

“I am more aware of things that are going on in the Penobscot [Nation] community and am more willing to help participate in getting community programs started for the community,” she said.

Brandy is one example of Maine’s future. She describes herself: “I like to think that I’m pretty friendly and outgoing. I enjoy riding my bike and swimming. I’m in Operation Breaking Stereotypes, and I love to draw and write. I hang out with my friends a lot. I am planning on working at the YMCA camp this summer in Winthrop, Maine. I also like to act and sing, and was Frau Schmidt in ‘The Sound of Music’ this past November and Zubaida Ula in the ‘Laramie Project’ on March 14th and 15th. I’m on Prom Committee and in Art Club. I plan to go to UMaine and Pierre’s School of Cosmetology, and after that I want to cut hair and be an art teacher. One of my major goals in life is to be able to have a Newfoundland dog and a family.”

Brandy went on to say that one day she would like to visit or maybe even move to Chicago and Cardiff, England. For Maine’s sake, I hope Brandy just visits these places and continues to call Maine her home. She is our future.

Students, how have you gained your voice in your communities? How have you used your voice to effect change for those communities? E-mail me at conversationswithateacher@gmail.com. Let’s continue this conversation.