Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Abraham Francis, a 10th grade student at Massena Central, will be traveling to back-to-back youth leadership programs this summer after being nominated by faculty at his school. Both programs are reserved for outstanding teens that exemplify leadership qualities and potential.

On July 7, Francis will travel to Washington, D.C. for one week to participate in the People to People Leadership Summit of 2008. He was nominated by Joe Phillips. The summit “helps prepare the world’s most promising young people for the opportunities and responsibilities ahead.”

While at the summit, Francis will gain academic credit, explore colleges and universities, live on the renowned George Washington University campus, and build knowledge, self-confidence and leadership abilities.

Francis will spend just one week back in Akwesasne before heading out to the second program, which is specifically for students who are interested in a career in medicine, as Francis is.

The National Youth Leadership Forum will be held at UCLA in Los Angeles from July 20-29. The forum will provide Francis with the opportunity to “study with and learn from some of our nation’s most distinguished medical leaders and research pioneers-visionaries and practitioners whose dedication and ability have brought them to the top of their profession.” He will also gain knowledge and perspective in the field of medicine, while again being surrounded by some of the nation’s most promising teens.

Francis said he hopes to attend the John Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore.

“I want to be a surgeon,” he said confidently. “I’m not quite sure what kind though. I think an ER surgeon.”

Despite being invited to both forums, Francis and his family have been required to pay for both trips. Approximately $10,000 in total is needed with the family still needing several thousand dollars. This week a trivia fundraiser is being held for Francis and additional benefits may be held. The family is also soliciting donations from local businesses and organizations.

Despite the financial burden, Francis’ mother Kathy said the opportunity outweighed the cost.

“The people they’re sending are the top in their class,” she said. “The people you meet in your life, you end up meeting somewhere down the road.”

Kathy Francis said she wants her son to see outside the box of the reservation and he shares her outlook.

“I am hoping to meet people that will help me later in life,” he said. “And whatever field I go into, I want to be the best in my field, I’m not going to settle…”