It is a New Year and I don't know about you, but I am already swamped with things to do. However, this week I got to interview two young ladies who made me pause to remember the innocence and excitement that comes with being young. They were albany students who were among the winners of a city wide essay contest on the definition of freedom.

The young girls, Cailey and Janelly, a 4th and 6th grader blew me away. They  joined me on the Midday show  and were articulate, personable and confident about what freedom meant to them. 

 Cailey said freedom meant she had the right to choose a variety of friends from any ethnic background. She went on to say that is not the case in other countries. And, recalled when in this country blacks and whites could not share a water fountain or sit in the same section in a movie theatre. Janelly's essay paid homage to her grandfather and relatives who immigrated from Cuba. She spoke about how they traveled in a makeshift boat and fought off sharks to reach America and freedom. 

 She too spoke of countries that don't allow their citizens to assemble freely, criticize their government and participate in democracy. My heart was made glad as they read their letters and I thought of what they might one day grow up to become. Young people are sometimes all lumped together in the same boat by critics who pontificate about the troubles of today's youth.

 But these two young ladies should make us  all remember that there are many, many, many young people succeeding in school,  making good grades, obeying and respecting their parents, helping out in their communities and no doubt will one day change the world.

Elaine