For this year’s recipient of the Healthy Youth Role Model Award, giving back runs in the family.
Natasha McDermott, 17, is a Hapnot Collegiate student who spends much of her free time supporting youth and leading community clean-up projects through the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre.
When asked about her motivation to volunteer, she points to her mom, Loretta McDermott, youth centre coordinator at the Friendship Centre.
“Its nice to see how much she is involved with community,” Natasha says of her mom. “She helps the youth so much.”
Loretta notes that she nominated her daughter for the award but stepped back from her usual role in the judging process to ensure fairness.
“I needed them to know what she does in the community,” the proud mom explains. “She’s a very kind, thoughtful young lady and I’ve seen how much she has given back, guiding younger youth with patience. She’s a good listener.”
Natasha’s next project is a support program for girls ages 10 to 13. Her aim is to help young girls develop resiliency during the inevitable ups and downs of adolescence.
“That’s the one stage when they are most fragile with their self-esteem,” Natasha says.
“It can be difficult.”
After conducting a survey of potential participants, asking what issues they want to talk about, Natasha is developing a program to address concerns such as body image, self-esteem and relationships.
Natasha commits a couple of hours a week to volunteerism, including helping lead a recent mural project at the Northern Lights Manor and community clean-up days.
With these responsibilities, plus a part-time job at Walmart, Natasha says she focuses on balance to maintain the healthy lifestyle that helped win her the award.
Natasha will graduate from Hapnot in June and is considering a career as a psychiatric nurse.
It’s a direction that sounds like a perfect fit for a teen who loves to connect with and support her peers.
“I feel that people are labelled as crazy, and that’s not what they are,” Natasha says. “They are human just like us. I’ve gone through some stuff myself, so I can relate to that.”
The Healthy Youth Role Model award has been awarded to a local youth since 2002. It is presented by a committee of local organizations as part of National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW), which runs from November 15 to 21.
As part of her award, Natasha received a personalized plaque, a cash prize and a gift basket filled with treats donated by award sponsors.
The other nominees for the award were Kaylee Banting, Matt Clarke and Magann Sutherland from
Creighton Community School and Wendy Corden, Trina Custer, Tianna Francoeur and Shawn Francois from Hapnot Collegiate.
