The Excitement of a Launch

For the past year, we've been working on a project. One that is new, exciting and to our knowledge, hasn't really been tried before.
It was the brain child of the youth - while talking with an e-media expert. The youth wanted to get their messages of not drinking out in a new way - using electronic media, versus the old print media. It has taken 11 months for us to put it together - with so much planning and many different phases - and finally we all are sitting on the edge of our seats, ready to hit play!
This summer, four of the yutes have taken on additional responsibilities to make sure the project gets done. And I have to say, just when I'm not sure what will happen - they always pull through.
Take Tuesday night, for example. I was starting to get a little worried - there is still so much to do, and so little time, comparatively. One of the youth picked up on my anxiety and said that I was the only one feeling worried, and that it was all going to be fine. He he, check, got the message!
Then, using a 30-day free trial, we tested our first message. As mobile phones started buzzing, and they all looked at their phones, it was like a burst of glee! Everyone got giddy, excited and bubbly! Even one youth who doesn't have a phone claimed to get the message through ESP. I hit pauze for a moment. And looked around. And watched. And took it all in. This was one of those moments when you realize that empowering youth is the greatest gift. That giving them the space to create, plan and implement a project from start to finish, is where it is at. Sure, we've made mistakes. Sure there have been missed deadlines. But really, they've taken those in and kept going. We've overcome numerous challenges, from funding to support. From internal to external.
But that's the point - THEY'VE overcome those. They've learned from them. And they've owned them.
Let's face it - they knew what would work and what wouldn't. They were happy to tell me how they thought things should go. And with a little help (especially from our e-media expert, whome they LOVE), they've really got a great project to launch.
Watching them grow. Watching them learn. But most of all, watching them succeed. It brings tears to my eyes. I hope they know how much I appreciate them, their work, and their dedication. They are such a great reminder of everything that is right with the world.