Empowering Youth: A Glimpse into the Life of SABRINA BARNES, a Dedicated Student Leader

Meet Sabrina Barnes, the student council president at DeCarteret College. Sabrina is strongly committed to representing the student body and goes above and beyond her responsibilities. Through hosting events, advocating for student rights, and fostering community engagement, Sabrina has impacted her school community. In addition to her role as president, Sabrina envisions a future in law, politics, or media, where she can intersect her passion for youth advocacy and serve society. Join us as we explore Sabrina Barnes's remarkable journey and her efforts to empower the youth.

What are your responsibilities as the student council president at DeCarteret College, and do you contribute to your school community as the student council president?

My duty as the student council president is to be the voice and representative of the entire student body. My responsibilities include attending board meetings, appealing for cases of behavioural circumstances, and hosting events to raise public awareness of students' rights and roles. This year, I contributed a lot. We hosted Charities and welfare projects, Painted the chairs and tables we use every day at school, and hosted events to cater for the psychosocial needs of students as well as build school spirit.

You mentioned your interest in excelling in law, politics, or the media. Can you elaborate on why these fields appeal to you and how you see them intersecting with your passion for youth advocacy?

Well, the law is a lot about the interpretation of rights and roles in our society, and politics is all about the creation of these laws for good governance. Advocacy is a mixture of both, where you call for better policies to be created so that, when interpreted, the people are pretty served. The media aspect is more of a personality trait; I love to share and express my thoughts, views, and radiance to the world. All these aspects appeal to me because, when I am part of them, time passes, I feel complete, and I imagine myself there shortly. I currently serve on advocacy boards, am studying CAPE law, and recently got accepted to youth parliament, so I always align myself with my interests. All these fields also revolve around serving, which is my calling; my purpose is to serve myself and others to create a society that serves each other.

Can you tell us about your involvement in the parish youth council and the police youth club?

What initiatives have you been involved in to promote youth empowerment and inclusion at the national level?

Being part of the MPYC allowed me to see the greater good in serving the local community rather than just my school community. Projects such as feeding the homeless, doing charity work, hosting fundraisers to assist families, and reading to children gave me an early start in philanthropy and service to others. It also helps me to be part of the change we need in society.

How do you balance your artistic interests, such as participating in plays and performing arts, with your academics and other responsibilities?

Well, I would not be honest if I shared that I figured it out. Being a teenager who overachieves means that it is never 50/50. I never balance school, the performing arts, and advocacy work. I counterbalance; some days it’s 100% school, some days it’s 50 per cent school, 20% performing, and 30%, and it changes based on occurrences in society.

All in all, I do this because I believe in youth participation in local and international affairs. For way too long, the leaders of society have failed to involve the youth. I believe that we make up the vast majority of the population, and we are the backbone of any society. When we become involved in the solution, we help to remove the problem.