LOCAL EVENTS
The struggles associated with growing up are numerous, but a group of San Marcos teens took on the inevitable challenge by hosting the Live Your Best Life Conference with the theme Survival Skills for Adulthood. The event was hosted by the Youth Task Force, which is a youth-led advisory board established in 2020 that is focused on community service and providing insight into the needs of youth in the greater San Marcos area. The group is a part of the Core Four Partnership, which is a collaboration between the city of San Marcos, Hays County, San Marcos CISD and Texas State University. The goal of the conference was to provide leadership skills to young individuals by allowing them to collaborate through activities and workshops to show them the importance of mental and physical health.
The event was free and open to all eighth to twelfth grade students, and recently graduated students were encouraged to attend. Teens enjoyed a full day of programming and activities which included an interactive keynote by the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center. The day began with breakfast at the San Marcos Activity Center, where participants were welcomed by the YTF team and San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson. After the keynote, which focused on healthy habits, students had lunch and had the chance to win giveaways donated by local organizations. With bellies full, the group made their way to the gym for a self defense workshop hosted by black belt Jeanne Caldwell. There was also a nutrition workshop hosted by Lizzy Orman and Sadphire Lopez where students learned how to eat on a budget and how to create healthy yet tasty meals. The conference concluded with more giveaways and surveys assessing the teens’ experiences.
