Image credit:  Youthink student reporter Sandy Xu got a chance to speak with Jennifer Keller, director of the Speak OUT conference.

Don’t Just Say It… Speak OUT: The Conference

by Sarah Li – Vernon Barford School, Edmonton Alberta May 29, 2009

The first Speak Out Annual Student Conference was impressive!

 
Ah yes, conferences…complicated and boring… Actually, time to think again! The first Speak Out Annual Student Conference held in Edmonton on May 3rd and 4th was amazing and impressive, taking the word “conference” to a whole new level. Hosted at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Shaw Conference Centre, the event gathered students aged 14 to 19 from all backgrounds – as they collaborated and shared their thoughts and ideas about the education system. Both Sandy Xu (my fellow Youthinker) and I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in this student conference, and here are just some of the deets!
 
Sunday May 3rd, 2009
We pulled up to the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel around 6:00pm and checked in – complete with sticky nametags that curled up by the end of the evening. Nevertheless, new faces and friends were seen and made, in fact approximately 200 youth from all four corners of the province participated in the SpeakOut conference. Education Minister Dave Hancock, who officially launched Speak Out in November 2008, gave a warm opening welcome.
 
“I believe that energetic and inventive young people are a source of inspiration,” he said.
 
Day One of the conference began with a perfect buffet dinner, and the evening ended with a speech by Andy Thibodeau, the amazing key note speaker who kept us all doubled over in laughter or listening intently with his humour and great advice: “Speak out! Ask questions! Answer questions! Volunteer and get involved in school activities!” The hard work would begin early the next morning…
 
Monday May 4th, 2009
Day two began at the Shaw Conference Centre in downtown Edmonton, as we zombied in at 7:00 am with everyone organized into home tables (20+ overall in the room) – each table with eight students and an adult facilitator to lead the discussions on just about every topic, such as education via video conferencing.
 
The day consisted of work sessions and energizing breaks, as each home table wrote specific ideas down, which were later pulled up to the screen at the front of the room. The conference participants voted and identified eight general themes as being most important in education to students: 1) Effective and qualified teaching 2) Preparation for the future 3) Testing 4) Student involvement 5) Relevant curriculum 6) Anti-bullying 7) School atmosphere 8) Healthy lifestyles

All in all, the Speak Out student conference was a great opportunity to get involved, because students and youth are so essential to influencing decisions that are made today. Make a difference and have your voice heard! But it’s also way more than just that: it’s a wonderful opportunity to improve leadership skills, get involved with your fellow peers from all over the province – rural or urban, yet have a great time at the same time!

You can even log in to the Speak Out website and post comments about education in Alberta… right now! So sign up for next year’s conference and send in an application at www.speakout.alberta.ca.

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