Along with many other students from across the state, the members of the Lisbon High School S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Program attended the 23rd annual Peer Leadership Conference, which took place in Portland, Maine at the end of last year. The conference was organized by the Maine Youth Action Network and featured guest speakers, many enriching and educational workshops and the opportunity to meet other teens from around the state who share the same beliefs and are part of the same network as those from other areas.

The theme for this conference was “Light a Candle for ME,” reinforced by an Eleanor Roosevelt quote, which reads, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” This theme was chosen by youth from across the state who believe young people can make a difference and shape a bright future. The idea of the conference was that young people would learn valuable information and would also have the opportunity to gather resources and connections to help their schools create positive changes within their communities.

Throughout the conference, various workshops were set up and attended by students eager to learn new things. The choices varied greatly from break dancing to nutrition, from learning about healthy relationships to meeting people with disabilities. Students had the opportunity to learn about eating disorders, leadership, suicide, sexuality and more. For anyone interested in learning more about the Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN), the conference, or other M.Y.A.N. events, you can visit the following website: www. Myan.com.