Hosting Radio in Summer Beaver

Howard Sugarhead Contributor

I host a radio show in my community called Rezzed Out Youth Show. It’s mainly about getting youth and kids involved in speaking out, having fun, playing games, and it’s a great way for them to learn how to talk when they’re in the spotlight.

The other thing is it helps get them ready for school in cities like Thunder Bay… because students tend to be shy and are scared to talk and socialize with others because they’re from a community where everybody knows everybody more or less from the time they’re born.

Meeting people, or how to do it, is a learned skill. Hosting this show is more or less a way of getting the youth out of their shell before they go out for school in the city.

Me and Keshatay Simon, a crisis worker, came up with the idea of the radio show when we were brainstorming for something new and unheard of to reach the youth in our community. We didn’t come up with the name for the show though... LOL! We had people call in during our first radio show and collected all the names people came up with. Then we did a draw for the name with a prize for the winning entry. That’s how we created the REZZED OUT YOUTH SHOW. Running the show has been like putting water on a plant… it grows slowly.

Interestingly, I was a shy and young boy once. There was a time when I didn’t know how to speak up. I made no eye contact, nor did I stand up for something when I wanted to do it. Other kids wouldn’t play with me because I was the smart one in my class and was getting my work done often earlier than my classmates. On top of that I was given a lot of nicknames and they were insulting and hurtful. I grew up getting my butt beat up for it all the time and being put down with words that were painful verbally. I got bullied everyday. Man, I was vulnerable. I’m older now and I see these people that had hurt my feelings everyday. I don’t hate them. I feel sorry for and I forgive all of them. If you were in my place and you remembered that little boy too maybe you would remember all those old feelings too.

I suppose I could kick their butts now that I’m older and stronger, but I know it’s gonna come back to me and haunt me. At the end of the day, I know it’s not the way to be: that is a place down the wrong path. I’ve been there… and there’s nothing but a dead end.

That’s where I’m at right now: recovering from all my mistakes and wishing I’d never internalized all the bad words that were said to me.

What I can say is: this whole experience has taught me that you need to open up and listen to others if you want to be heard.

So here I now am, hosting youth radio shows here in Summer Beaver, working as a local youth co-ordinator and traveling to youth conferences and meetings to speak out on behalf of the youth.

I was once quiet, now I’m loud with word because I am not afraid to speak out. I was shy now I’m fly looking cool! LOL But seriously, I really like getting the youth together, listening to what they have to say and hearing how they’re impacted by what we’re doing as a community through the radio show. It’s neat and a blessing to be a part of that. I find that I really look forward to the shows!

ELIJAH HOWARD SUGARHEAD
Rezzed Out Youth Show airs once a week in Summer Beaver via the local radio station on Wednesdays.