by Megan MalzkuhnIf you like to be left behind, not knowing what’s going on with the bandwagon, this post is not for you. Stop reading now. But, if there is a tiny chance you’re curious, feel free to continue reading and learning something new. This is as educational as a PBS show can get. First things first: there is no deaf youth association in America. Deaf youth in America is a large inactive group, either being too busy with their immediate future to be concerned about others or not realizing there are more people like them that are more interested in making changes rather than gossiping about the latest Britney fiasco. What is youth? It does not mean ages from 10 to 18, like the creepy tween craze or those “I’m-so-cool-with-my-know-it-all-and-antisocial-attitude” kids. We have Junior NAD, catering to high school students, plenty of positive leadership camps or workshops for teens, and among other things. They have it all. Until they get into college or graduate from high school and realize toiling away at their local McDonald’s does not bite the bullet. College is fun and hip, sure. But when you’re done, you’re done. Staying in the gutter forever does not become you. You go on with your life, getting a career and boxing yourself in a tiny cubicle in an organizational office hell, and start paying off the debts you mounted up while you were buying your toys and clothes to compete with fellow students in college. You get stuck, sure. What if I’m telling you there is a way out. Not quite a red/blue pill situation here, we do not have that luxury of choice. Rather, there is a way for you to actually contribute few hours of your time weekly into something positive for yourself and others. You’re bored? You’re lacking creativity, both mentally and spiritually? You’re stuck in a rut, wanting better things but not knowing how to get them? You’re lazy and never found the drive to apply yourself to a positive cause? You want that expensive gadget (say, a Wii) but cannot afford it? Well, this is not a solution to all of your problems, especially the monetary situation where you’re lacking a Wii, but this will give you connections to other people who might have a Wii. Even better, this will make you feel important. Significant someone in this kind of society where you’re just a gray person walking down a nameless street in a suburban city of a corporate nation. You will never be bored again. This is a strong claim, but like the infomercials love to say: 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!No, I’m actually exaggerating on the money part, but you get the gist, I hope.Join Deaf Youth USA if you’re still reading this and agreeing with what I have been saying. Deaf Youth USA (DYUSA) is a new concept, borrowed from our European friends. Last summer, I went on a backpacking trip with my sister and roommate, just three of us, for a month before joining up forces with other friends in Barcelona, Spain. Our destination: the World Congress of World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in Madrid, Spain. Why? My sister was selected as a representative for National Association of the Deaf (NAD), acting as a delegate and spokesperson for USA in a huge international conference. Soon enough, my sister was voted in as the secretary for the youth board of WFD. Her mad English skillz helped. Anyway, once I was there, I met plenty of young people like me, whether they spoke/wrote in a different language, we could understand each other pretty well. With liberal amounts of sangria, beer, firewater, and campy atmosphere, I found myself analzying what was really wrong with America. We have it all, the laws and rights that allow us to get school, jobs, and live normally as we could. But, one thing was missing: a collective body of young deaf adults. There used to be College NAD (CNAD) but it fell one too many times. Duh. College kids all care about their grades, partying lessons, and nearest cash machine. Organizing a strong body of young deaf adults is a bit too much for them. Instead of relying on others for manpower and motivation, we have to look inside ourselves and decide whether we are capable of greater things.I’m saying I am capable, but only as much as I can handle. Add five more people, I’m suddenly capable of doing small things such as writing, buying domain names for websites, and debating ideas of change. Add fifty more, we have an army. Add a thousand people, we are solid.Right now, we are a collective of ten people. A bit more, considering how many friends Deaf Youthamerica gained through Facebook, however it is still small. Irregardless of how small or lacking manpower, the organization is growing.On the train trip from Madrid to Lisbon, Portugal, it was just me and my sister, tired as hell but awake as we can be with the train rolling through black landscape, crowded in the economy section, and full from greasy burgers, we sat down in another section where we could recline fully and be comfortable. Our extreme discomfort and slowly digesting food kept us up. Talking about deaf youth pushed us over the edge of wakefulness, we were up for hours, discussing the logistics, names, reasonings, and DYUSA was born. I did not, am not going to, and will never take the credit for DYUSA. The concept was born the day students decided to protest against the oppressive administration at Gallaudet. Seeing how students banded together, organizing things by themselves, and held peace in the halls and tents they called home, inspired me to think bigger. That October protest was just a month, but what about the years ahead of us?Deaf Youth USA is the years ahead of us. In a small scale, a body of fifty students held on stubbornly and twisted everyone’s hands. On a grander scale, thousands of young deaf adults will definitely shake the old system of letting others handle the important things. We don’t need to complain endlessly how it is bad. We have the best legislative and judicial system in the world, right there at our fingertips. Americans revolted against the biggest and wealthiest power in that time and won. The same manifesto is still there, breeding into generations of young adults, whether they are deaf or not. It is our time, right here, right now, to challenge the older corporate and institutionalized thinking, and be the change we wish to see in our country.This summer, in New Orleans, right before the National NAD conference, there will be a camp for deaf youth. KOA Kampground will be invaded and overrun with deaf youth from July 3rd to 7th. Be there or you will wish you were.If you’re still reading this, I’m patting your back for making this far and hope you do agree with me. It is never the time to gripe and complain. It is always the right time to take action! We have nothing to lose- the Gallaudet protest taught me this. And in return, I’m giving myself back to the society, to my culture, to my people. Rock on, Deaf Youth USA!