MOUNT VERNON — Seek clarity on who are and who you aren’t. That retrospective message was voiced by speaker and yoga instructor Julie Wilkes at the second annual EmpowerUS event for New Direction’s Teen Advisory Council.
The youth-led event was to award and acknowledge the members of TAC who went above and beyond in their high schools.
Three awards were given tofellow TAC members: the Shining Light Award, Friend to All and Inspiring Leader.
Addisyn Hoar was nominated by Tara Murray for the Shining Light Award for Hoar’s ability to express herself unequivocally while making other people’s days brighter.
“She’s a very unique person,” Hoar said. “She rises above and doesn’t let anyone get to her.”
Hoar goes by the motto ’embarrassment doesn’t exist’ — instead be an interesting person rather than a conformist.
Both Hoar and Murray are seniors at Knox County Career Center studying early childhood education.
The duo joined TAC to make a positive impact in their community while making friends in the process.
Jessica Cummings was awarded Inspiring Leader and nominated by Alayna Tedrow.
The award recognizes people who are leaders in different communities. Cummings, a senior at Fredericktown High School, is part of the National Honor Society, FAA and student council.
Rachael Snyder was awarded Friend to All and was nominated by Emily Bell.
Teen Advisory Council has 35 active members, TAC advisor Libby Barteau said.
EmpowerUS took place in February due to it being Teen Violence Awareness month, in which TAC collected data from a peer environmental scan.
Information collected showed the percentage of Knox County High School students who feel anxious weekly continues to trend upward, as does bullying. Meanwhile, students who feel connected to their families is trending down.
Advising 35 members has taught Barteau valuable lessons about following through on plans and not being afraid to make a change.
“As an adult, I can say I want to do this and it gets pushed to the back burner,” Barteau said. “They (TAC) go full throttle. They want to see a change in our community.”
Wilkes spoke about change in a community and with TAC members, detailing her journey of being a heart disease survivor.
Wilkes was pronounced dead when she was born. Doctors tried for nine minutes to resuscitate her, but their efforts were failed.
It wasn’t until Wilkes ended up in her mother’s arms that she was brought back to life, along with the simple yet powerful three-letter phrase “I love you.”
This unexplained experience propelled Wilkes to live urgently for the past 40-plus years, despite doubts from medical professionals and those around her.
“(There was) always people telling me I wasn’t going to make it,” Wilkes said. “I was told my whole life I couldn’t do things.”
Wilkes began running every day after school in her teenage years, shocking her mother.
At 24, Wilkes decided to run a marathon in Alaska, realizing it was the first time she’d dreamed big.
She went on to open her yoga studio in Columbus, write books, save senior rescue pets and speak across the country about mental health, wellness and fitness.
Having clarity of who she was drove her to be the successful woman she is today, Wilkes said.
“Life can be pretty hard,” Wilkes said. “But stay strong. See your success and cheer on. Take care of yourself every day. Soften your heart, don’t make it angry.
“There’s a lot to be grateful for.”