It's a tough adjustment for any high-schooler when a parent's new job means they must move.
For Andover High School junior Roozbeh (pronounced Rooz-bay) Badie, it was a cross-country adjustment. Last year, his family moved from California to Andover.
The quiet 16-year-old with the Persian name was not sure where to turn to find new friends or where to go for some fun. At the Andover/North Andover YMCA on Haverhill Street he found a part-time job and a "Youth in Government" program that has changed things for the better.
"I've blossomed," he said proudly. "I used to be so shy and now I'm on a debate team where I get to share my opinions."
The program meets weekly for about an hour and teaches teens in grades 8-12 about the democratic process. Teens participate in multiple aspects of state government. Teens research and write bills, debate issues, vote on proposals, run for office and hear judicial cases.
The debating piece of the program interested Roozbeh the most. Current events, including cyber bullying, the Penn State scandal, hazing at an AHS boys basketball summer camp and Andover teachers' work-to-rule position adopted because they do not have a new contract, are a sampling of issues debated. Debaters prepare by reading newspapers and researching online.
"The program has helped me gain the confidence to express my opinions without fear of feeling judged," Roozbeh said. "I never knew I could be this passionate about a debate."
Jim Holmes runs the program and said it's a great way for teens to learn how government works. Roozbeh is one of six teens from the program getting ready for a statewide debating event at the Statehouse in March. Holmes said it's the only youth program allowed on the senate floor and other Statehouse offices.
"It lets students see first-hand how government works," Holmes said.
The Y group, including Roozbeh, will debate a bill with a crowd of at least 100 looking on.
Roozbeh is ready, thanks to Holmes.
"Jim is like the devil's advocate...always getting us going," Roozbeh said.
Holmes, who was a history major in college and calls himself a news junkie, knows the trauma of public speaking.
"There's a saying that people fear public speaking more than death," Holmes said.
His way to handle that trauma for these teens was to give each one a children's book at their first meeting.
"They had to read it in front of everyone and make eye contact. If you made a mistake, you started again," Holmes said.
Roozbeh eventually got through the assignment and three months later he is getting ready to debate on the Statehouse floor.
"Pretty cool," he said.
