Future Leader Spotlight: Dequan Trott
This article is part 4 of an 8-part series featuring the experience of Bermuda’s Future Leaders at the Global Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Summer Program.
Dequan Trott:
”In such a fast-growing world, kids must try to depend on creativity to survive, to stay pure and innovative.”
Student Profile:
Dequan: My name is Dequan Trott, I am 15 years old and I attend Cedarbridge Academy. I attended the Global Youth Leadership program at Brandon Hall through Future Leaders Bermuda. With anticipation, I decided, to create a non-profit organization that targets the less fortunate population of youth in Bermuda; giving them the opportunity to experience the arts, specifically theater. I picked this project based off my passion for the arts, I want children to have a place to learn how to advocate their voice but also to improve their leadership as the youth. While at Brandon Hall I listened to many speakers who all had their different opinions on how leadership should be valued and practiced. I personally used those opinions to build my awareness of leadership in such fast-growing world; especially as a teen. Overall, this program was a wonderful opportunity. With the ambition I’ve learned from the many speakers I may decide to move on with my project through the theater company I am already a part of; Noire Youth Theater Company. I will prove the purpose of the arts and the skills that it is able to provide, with my future endeavours being in musical theater or film acting.
Interviewer: Why did you choose your particular project?
Dequan: While at Brandon Hall I decided, through the program, to create a non-profit organization that targets the less fortunate population of youth in Bermuda; giving them the opportunity to experience the arts, specifically theater. I picked this project based off my passion for the arts, I want children to have a place to learn how to advocate their voice but also to improve their leadership as the youth. While at Brandon Hall I listened to many speakers who all had their different opinions on how leadership should be valued and practiced. I personally used those opinions to build my awareness of leadership in such fast-growing world; especially as a teen.
Interviewer: Do you plan to implement your idea? If so, what are some possible challenges to implementation?
Dequan: In Bermuda there are not many initiatives open to the youth for free, though stereotypes and misconceptions of what the arts provides will challenge my project, I will prove the purpose of the arts and the skills that it is able to provide.
Interviewer: What was your overall experience at Brandon Hall School?
Dequan: Overall, this program was a wonderful opportunity. With the ambition I’ve learned from the many speakers I may decide to move on with my project through the theater company I am already a part of; Noire Youth Theater Company.
Summary of Presentation:
Albert Einstein once stated that,” Imagination is more important than knowledge”. Good Day Everyone, my name is Dequan Trott and I am the founder and creator of Kids Who Act. In Bermuda there are not many initiatives that are open to the youth for free in the arts arena. There is a certain stereotype that the arts are a waste of time, majority of the teachers in my school think that they are just another encore subject that provides nothing that prepares you for life; but truthfully their wrong. A survey was taken by a global movement to recognize the making of positive change amongst young people stating that children who study in the arts are 4 times more likely to achieve academic achievements and school attendance. The arts have proven to improve many skills in kids including, listening, negotiating and communicating, creativity and increase in self-esteem and cultural awareness. To prove this great success, I invented Kids Who Act, a non-profit organization that targets the less fortunate population of youth in Bermuda who do not get the opportunity to experience the arts specifically theater. This program will be based on a curriculum that would teach them all roles played in a theater from a technician, to a director, producer and even a stage manager and will give them the opportunity to learn the responsibilities of a leader. With the support of local sponsors, I will not only provide a great learning experience but provide breakfast and lunch; making sure they deserve to eat healthy and feel healthy. I want to empower the youth and not blame them. To inspire them and let them express their feelings on a different stage. Helping them to act as leaders but also to act out as motivated kids.
The full Kids Who Act follows below [PDF here]:
