Stephen Hickson, a Grade 12 student at Sacred Heart Catholic High School, was a participant in last week’s Forum for Young Canadians. He delivered a speech in front of his peers about public transit that we’ve included below.
The event brings high school students from across Canada together in Ottawa, for a week that included a Q&A with the Speaker of the House of Commons, watching Question Period, a dinner with MPs, workshops at Export Development Canada, breakfast with Senators and various group sessions revolving around elections and other political issues.
Hickson’s economics and politics teacher Mark Morden suggested that he apply to participate in the event. He did, and found out he was accepted in January.
“The experience was amazing. Things that stood out we’re obviously multiple visits to Parliament Hill including the House of Commons,” says Hickson. “The visit to EDC was a pleasant surprise. There we participated in an international trade simulator where we had to negotiate terms for a health care deal between a Canadian manufacturer and an international hospital. I played the role of an EDC rep which meant that I was looking to benefit the most from loans and insurance deals. It was so interesting that I looked up EDC University Co-op opportunities for the future.”
Hickson is Co-Prime Minister of Sacred Heart along with Taylor Cavanagh. He says while he’s interested in politics, he doesn’t have any immediate plans to run for office.
“My view is that if you set out for politics from the start, you’re in it for the wrong reasons. My plan is to get a degree in either commerce or economics and then find a job in either the public or private sector. If I feel that I could make a difference in politics down the road, I’d be open to entering the field but I’m not setting out to become an MP,” he says.
Stephen Hickson’s speech on public transit, delivered last week at Library and Archives Canada.
When I look at today’s youth, I see a sense of uncertainty. Uncertainty to afford tuition, uncertainty to be able to find employment and even uncertainty to afford car insurance. These profound fiscal uncertainties are only some of the growing challenges facing the young adults of today.
