McCoy student chosen for provincial youth council
Monsignor McCoy high school student Daniel Tirado-Ribero has been chosen as one of 32 new Youth Council representatives to Education Minister David Eggen.
Tirado-Ribero was up against more than 200 other applicants, but Eggen felt he was the right choice to help build up the dynamic and diverse council he was looking for.
“We were looking for someone who was interested in their community, that looks past their individual pursuits,” said Eggen in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “Someone who is looking for ways to build community — I know Daniel has shown some extraordinary aptitude in that regard from a very young age.”
Eggen said Alberta’s population is the youngest in the country, and with major curriculum changes on the horizon he felt it important to have the voice of the youth affected by those changes be heard.
“I think when you have a frank and open forum, and a safe place to talk about education, is really important in this juncture of our history. We are developing our curriculum. We are expanding schools all over the province. Our society is the youngest in the country, and it is changing rapidly.”
Daniel Tirado-Ribero said he was honoured to be chosen to represent youth in this corner of the province.
“I will be expected to bring feedback from students all across the (Medicine Hat Catholic) district and the other local districts. This is a collective not an individual effort, so my goal is to work with students across all the districts, gather feedback and bring it to the council so we can have meaningful discussion.”
Tirado-Ribero said he also has ideas of his own he hopes to bring up for discussion when the council has its first meeting in September.
“I would like to really talk about how we can make our schools a better place,” he said. “So create a school system where students aren’t afraid to be themselves, and express themselves. I also want to help tackle bullying. And I would also like to bring forth discussion on how we can educate our students on cultural and global trends, such as climate change and alternative energy resources so they can become innovators and lead Alberta’s progress in the future.”