Milwaukee Times is teaming up with Lindsay Heights “Youth SPEAK Out”, a Boys & Girls Clubs program, to showcase some of the talented young writers from Shalom High School and The Boys & Girls Club to learn their views on some of today’s hot topics.

What are your plans after high school?
My plans after high school will be to attend MATC for my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. I don’t know what specific field yet but I know it’s going to be where I am helping people and getting to know and understanding their problems. I really think there are people out in this world who just need someone to talk to and that’s going to tell them that everything’s going to be alright. I really can’t wait till I graduate from high school this June. I’m really looking forward to it. Those are my plans after I graduate from high school.
Violence/Gang Violence
There’s a lot of violence going around in Milwaukee. This past year I lost my oldest nephew Javon Whiteside to gun violence. He was only 18 years of age when he lost his life. I really think no human beings should have to go through that. I don’t understand how somebody takes a life for no reason not knowing they’re just hurting themself and throwing their life away for stupidity. People need to come together as one and work together to help fix this problem that’s killing our young teens and stop fighting each other for a change. I wish one day I can open up some type of organization that would help keep teens off of the street and get them involved in some activities out of school.

What are your plans after high school?
My plans after high school are to go to college. I think that would be good for me because it would further my education, it would open doors for me, and I would grow as a person. Experience some things I haven’t before going to college it will help me build my career in what I want to be in life.
Do you trust adults? Why or why not?
The only adults I trust are my teachers at my school, my parents, my sisters, brother and cousins. Other than them, I don’t trust any other adults. Sometimes a lot of adults can’t be trusted. It’s the things most adults do that make themselves untrustworthy.

What makes a good relationship when dating?
Dating someone takes a lot of time and commitment to connect with your mate. You must always be patient in finding someone to connect socially with because rushing into relationships can lead to physical abuse, verbal abuse, and worst of all, a broken heart. Nobody can be guaranteed a perfect relationship, no matter whom the person is involved with. It always seems like it’s impossible to comprehend what builds a good relationship between two people when dating; but if you set standards and refuse to settle for less, things become a lot simpler. For example, if you have been in a harsh relationship before and you plan to avoid that type of situation again, search for someone that holds outstanding qualities in their personality. These qualities could consist of anything from musical interest, career studies, academic and artistic skill, all the way to emotional support, and availability. For example, my search for a mate with outstanding qualities would include looking for a lady who respects herself inside and out, someone who dresses nice and respectably, someone who is not a stranger to having a good time, and someone who feels comfortable to talk to me about any pain or stress they’re feeling that relates to our relationship. My standards set grounds for both me and the other individual to seek a great level of communication, responsibility, respect and an open mind toward each other’s opinions.