POEM: Summit is the solution

Idaho’s annual Youth Summit presented by Idaho Drug Free Youth (IDFY) is our response to Samantha’s poem entitled “Keep Going,” that was published in Friday’s Cd’A Press. Yes!

We must keep going. We, the board of directors for IDFY, are proud to report that every year for the past 20 years, we, along with hundreds of Idaho’s teenagers, have converged upon the tranquil terrain at Camp Lutherhaven and have committed to keep going. And, as we did, we discovered what it was like to be free — we felt empowered.

We learned by looking into the eyes of one another that our life was not so different than that of our peers — we felt belonging, trusted and loved. We collectively came to realize the infinite worth of self. We learned to move through life with grace and integrity, seeing life no longer as impossible, but “I’m Possible.”

Finally, at the end of the week, as we departed that hallowed ground, we saw something quite remarkable. We saw a face in a mirror, a reflection in a puddle, or an image on the teardrop of a friend as we embraced saying, “Yes, keep going because you are worth it!”

In conclusion, we offer this open invitation to Samantha. Thank you for your courage and honesty, and in return we would like to offer you a scholarship to attend this year’s Youth Summit at Camp Lutherhaven in June. You may contact our office and arrangements will be made. (208) 664-IDFY.

JEFF OWENS

Coeur d’Alene