"MTV, lewd performers, loud music, drugs, violence. What's our world coming to?!"

Such statements of dismay about the morals and the quality of our young people-our future-are all too common.

But often, we don't hear the good news. It may not be as bad as we think. There are many terrific seniors in the Class of 2004 who give us hope. I talked with four of them, who were recommended by their high school principals. These students are just a sampling of the many who will be our leaders in the future; they will also likely continue to be excellent role models.

• • • •

Consider Teddy Boone from St. Paul's School. It was hard to reach Teddy because of his visits to universities he is considering, plus his local rehearsals. He wants to pursue a degree in music-theatre, a non-traditional major.

Entrance into these programs is based on auditions. Teddy had auditioned at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and was scheduled for another in Chicago.

Teddy is one of the lucky few-he knew what he wanted to do with his life from an early age. His mother says that, as a very young child, he sang all day and into the night. She notes that he was her first child, and she just assumed that all children sang like that!

As a third grader, Teddy was chosen to play the role of Oliver in the musical. School play though it was, he was by far the youngest actor with a major part, much less the lead role. Now a tall, red-haired baritone, he earned the role of Harold Hill, the main character in "Music Man," St. Paul's spring production.

This is his second year as drum major, leading the school band he has been playing in since the eighth grade. "I'm definitely a performer," Teddy says. His style is that of the crooners- Sinatra, Connick-and his voice is smooth, clear and true. Asked for a sample, he thought for a few seconds and then shared "Some Enchanted Evening," from "South Pacific." It was jaw-droppingly beautiful.

"My ambition is to be an actor or a singer and maybe teach. I'd really love to act in films, be on stage-to share." Being able to tell a story for two hours to 200 people who will listen is the source of his fascination. "To be a part of that is awesome!" he says, broadly smiling, and obviously enjoying the thought of it. Then he adds a sage thought: "There's nothing stronger than portraying real life. I always look for something more, and for meaning in what I do."

For someone who feels art as Teddy does, he is surprisingly down-to-earth. He credits St. Paul's with much of the growth of his talent and his larger view of the world. When he was accepted by the private school in Covington, which has students from many places, he had to make friends "from scratch." That, he feels, has broadened his understanding of people. He will quickly tell you that the school has helped him toward a great future by preparing him to be accepted by a quality university.

• • • •

Carlos Lopez grew up in Honduras and attended the National School of Art. To be one of the 200 students who are accepted at the school, various qualifying standards have to be met and rated. Drawings, composition and handling the mediums and materials all play a part. In an embarrassed way, Carlos told me, "I got a 98." After viewing his art, the reason is obvious.

Carlos is looking for his own particular style and is still practicing, trying different techniques and materials. His subjects cover a wide range and his talent is unmistakable and vital. He finds his subjects in other peoples' ideas, which he interprets in his own way; at other times, "it's what's happening that day."

Prior to our afternoon interview, he had created two pastel monotone portraits on brown packaging paper that possessed a surprising maturity. The budding artist likes to mix figurative art with abstract, and likes anatomy "a lot," as well as texture. He stiffened an old pair of jeans with acrylic, attached them to a stretched canvas and painted them to make a sculptural wall hanging. He is also gaining experience in ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting and art history.

While he is focused on art, he has a varied curriculum at Mandeville High School. His favorite class-after art-is English. He is a member of the track team. In Honduras, he was in a three-mile, cross-country race and came in second. He can sometimes run a mile in four minutes. "I'm not the best runner in the world, but I try," he says.

With graduation coming soon, he has set goals: "I have a big dream. I want to go to college in Italy." His reasons are that Italy is the heart of art, its emotion and its center, and many of the world's greatest artists have come from there. Carlos knows that, because of its similarity to his native Spanish language, Italian will not be a barrier. Learning will likely be comfortable for him. His Mandeville High art teacher, who is from Italy, uses a learning system similar to the national school in Honduras.

After his schooling, he thinks that perhaps he will one day be an art teacher and a graphic designer. For now, he sells his paintings and uses the earnings to buy more supplies. He also takes an occasional commission for a portrait.
Ponchatoula High School, the largest school in Tangipahoa Parish, is where Amanda Russell has risen to the top of her graduating class.

According to her principal, Cindy Foster-who was uncharacteristically effusive in her estimation-Amanda is the type of student she hopes will ask for a letter of recommendation. She notes that Amanda is a "fantastic student and a benevolent child."

Amanda's current résumé is already a single-spaced, two-column page. She is a 4.0 student, and, among other things: received the Tulane Book Award for Academic Achievement and Community Service; is in "Who's Who" of national high school students; was named an Outstanding Student of America; is one of 12 "Blazers" who mentor; is a D.A.R.E. role model; is nominated for the Governor's Congressional Scholarship (the only one in the parish); was president of her junior and senior classes; was on the student council for three years; is a member of Key Club and the National Honor Society; and was a maid on the Homecoming Court for two years. PLUS, she works three days a week and has finished a sociology class at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Not surprisingly, Amanda finds that her biggest challenge is "balancing work, school, social activities and church."
She has been accepted at several universities of some size, but wants to go to Centenary College in Shreveport, a campus of only about 1200 students. Her reasoning is mature: "I want to go to law school. Centenary has a very good percentage of graduates who are accepted. You get to research cases just as you would if you were already a lawyer."

Amanda also has ambitions to participate in government, and had a taste of it at Girl's State when she was elected senator. She describes the summer event as "pretty cool." She presented a bill at the state capitol-at the podium, with a microphone-and witnessed the voting system work just as the elected officials use it.

While government involvement is a possibility later, her goal is heavily weighted toward public service, not politics. "Christ is my greatest passion," she says. "I want to be a part of quality legislation-to be a part of making peoples' lives better."

While Amanda has her goals set, the reality of it all is still daunting to her. The problems of others her age are problems she also shares, and she uses guidelines to help her cope. "You have to decide what you want to accomplish, and find out where you fit in. I'm supposed to be deciding a path for the rest of my life, and I'm only 18 years old!" she says, with some anguish. Amanda realizes that, while she has had some life experience, there are many options to consider, and there are many resources.

Her advice to other kids? "Go for your dream! There's so much out there- there's something for everyone and tons of people to help you. If you reach out to them, they'll reach out to you."

The key to all of it, she thinks, is to find balance.

• • • •

Leadership? How about Katie Sciortino from St. Scholastica Academy in Covington?

She participates in "Freedom's Answer," a non-partisan effort for high school students from across the country, who learn how to encourage voter turnout. At Halloween, the local group collected pledges to vote instead of treats. "Everyone can use a little reminder," says Katie.

Her efforts are already paying off. This year, she attended Louisiana Girl's State and was elected governor. Katie's summation of the experience: "It gave me a real good view on politics, and a perspective of the wheeling and dealing." The process involves a miniature version of real life; the candidates first run in their own "city," then "parish," and finally on the "state" level.

Her view of the procedure is that, in a leadership position, "you always have critics, but the biggest challenge is the inner struggle-I want to please people and be happy without forfeiting what I want to achieve."

And how can this be done? Again, the answer is surprisingly mature. "You have to rise above the negativity. Look at the pros and cons, consider the what ifs, and make your decision."

Katie has been active in student council since the eighth grade; she participates on the state and national level and is one of eight students in the United States on the National Executive Board of Student Councils. She represents six states.

She admits to being self-driven, but acknowledges quickly that her parents are always supportive and encouraging. At the same time, they have stood back and let her experience life on her own. "That has helped me be ready and prepared," she says. This is from a young woman who just recently reached voting age.

In ten years, she hopes to be working in a television studio, maybe doing a little anchoring, having studied broadcast journalism along the way. And then? "I have ambitions and goals, but someday I want to be a mom like my own-a soccer mom who can balance everything."

By the way, on a weighted system, Katie has a 4.26 grade point average.

• • • •

Students like the four featured here are generally not the ones who make the headlines because of outrageous behavior. They are the ones who, in all likelihood, will continue to set the upper standards- quietly and consistently. Amanda, Carlos, Katie and Teddy all say that a defining and important part of their lives is that their parents are supportive, encouraging and proud. It's up to the rest of us to do the same!

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