Edward Sun, 18, Grade 12, Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute in Don Mills

“We need to enhance community support for younger children in troubled families—to fight crime early. I used to have some very good buddies who didn’t receive too much attention from their families, and were naturally comforted by the influence of other ‘bad’ kids. I say ‘comforted’ because unlike the rest of the world around them, they actually talked and listened to each other.

I think the best way to ease crime in the city would be to pay more attention to these kids. They are not bad people, and all they really wanted is a group of people that could understand them. Every single kid likes people who listen to them.

It’s one thing to get tough on crime, with longer jail terms or curbing gun violence, but we need to increase the amount of community support services in the city. Sure, spending resources to curb gun violence is helpful, but that is just an immediate patch.

I truly believe that any criminal in this city could have been on a better track. Instead of immediate solutions to reduce crime, please consider a greater focus on the long term.”

Jenny Williams, 15, Grade 10, Martingrove Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke

“I believe that to make life better in Greater Toronto, we must engage our youth in extracurricular activities, such as sports or leadership.

One idea, with respect to engagement of Toronto’s youth, may be community sport centres, particularly in areas where parents cannot afford to give their kids these extracurricular opportunities. There is strong evidence that participation in sports also leads to an increase in learning development and therefore, an increase in school grades.

After reading about the closing of schools in the Toronto District School Board, I would want to see these schools turn into community sport centres — areas where youth can go to exercise and promote active living.

If you are not as involved in sports, then leadership may be an alternative. In the education system, there has always been some type of student involvement, whether it is through student councils, student senates or student trustees. What is strange is why there is not this same youth involvement in our city council? How can a council, which admits to representing all the people of Toronto, not have a representative from our age group?”

Zane Schwartz, 17, Grade 11, Leaside High School in East York

“I’ve gone to school with students from all over the world, incredible people who want to make a positive change. Unfortunately, our school system sometimes denies students the opportunity to be the incredible leaders that they are.

A perfect example of this is the community service requirement in high schools where students must complete an obligatory 40 hours. Community service provides an unparalleled opportunity for the youth of Toronto to discover their passions and give back to their communities.

Students who are passionate about sports have a myriad of events to choose from, whether it be volunteering with a local team or at a city-wide marathon. And that’s just one example; no matter what students are interested in, our city is so diverse that there is an outlet for them to grow themselves and to give back to their communities through volunteering.

In many high schools, the community service requirement is viewed as an obligation, not an opportunity. Students are not provided with enough opportunity to explore their passions through community service and therefore many students end up forcing themselves to complete the requirement. They count down every hour volunteering in a place they do not particularly enjoy and when they’re done, they’re never coming back. By providing students with more information regarding opportunities to complete community service, students will select things that they are passionate about and will come back again and again.”

Maria Khan, 17, Grade 12, Maple High School in Vaughan

“The stereotypical view of the average teen is a careless and ignorant rebel. However, what many people are unaware of is that most teens are sincere and care deeply about issues that matter.

It’s just a matter of helping them take initiative to stand up and make a difference in their community. Thus, if I could suggest one thing to make life better in the GTA, it would be to create more programs within schools involving community initiatives targeted towards teenagers.

As part of my school’s Empower Student Partnership team – between York Region police and students —I have witnessed the amazing contribution of some of the leaders in our school. We have done food drives, hockey games to support Sick Kids hospital, fundraisers for cancer research and much more. As we began to go in depth into issues, more students and younger students decided they would take a part in what the Grade 12 seniors have done in a standing up to bullying campaign.

It is our generation that will eventually replace those before us. Thus, it’s vital that we have the tools to identify issues, propose solutions and have courage to make a difference. With programs that encourage leadership, more students will be motivated to create positive social change in their community and eventually, the outside world.”

Lewis Fainer, 18, Grade 12 at Thornhill Secondary School in Markham

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“I would make the school system more accessible to different learners. There are a lot of students who are interested in the trades or electronics, but there are not a lot of opportunities. I think there’s only one trade school in York Region.

Because of this, we do see a lot of students just checking out. We could have students in schools.

I think there is an interest among students to learn a trade, but there aren’t the facilities. There are people who are more inclined to enter the work force from high school. I don’t think our school system adequately prepares them to do that.”