Encouraging Youth To Be The Change

Were you at the 2006 MDRT Annual Meeting in San Diego, California? If so, you probably recall Challenge Day, a nonprofit organization that facilitates workshops for high school youth throughout the country. You may also remember the powerful words of some of the teens who participated in this Main Platform presentation—and how their lives were transformed by connecting with their classmates, overcoming the barriers of gender, race, class, and other stereotypes through the Challenge Day experience.

Earl S.Prolman, CLU, ChFC, of Nashua, New Hampshire, a 44-year MDRT member and MDRT Foundation Diamond Knight was also there, and was deeply moved. While he recognized the importance of Challenge Day, he never thought his community had any of the problems described in this Main Platform presentation.

However, soon after returning to his hometown, Prolman read an article in his local newspaper about the rampant bullying by the youth in his community. He contacted a local family-focused social service agency about the possibility of partnering with Challenge Day.

During the next 10 months, and after many conversations and meetings with his local Rotary Club, Nashua High School South, and the MDRT Foundation, Challenge Day was brought to his community. The workshop at the high school was a big success, and adults noticed an almost immediate difference in the students’ interactions.

Later that year, a friend asked Prolman if he could help a child who was being bullied at a different school — Prolman knew just who to contact. Challenge Day has now been to three different high schools in New Hampshire. Though each process was arduous and involved networking with schools, agencies, parents, fundraisers, and students, Prolman never gave up, Prolman said he believes that this program is too powerful, too lasting and too necessary to give up on.

Challenge Day is a unique program in that the direct results of the workshops cannot be calculated. Students attend the all-day workshop, later becoming mentors to incoming high school students who, in turn, pass on the message of love, diversity, truth and full expression.

Prolman sees himself as an advocate, able to build connections, motivate others, and raise funds to support the important work of Challenge Day. He believes in service above self. In 1965, MDRT introduced the Whole Person concept to Prolman when he first became an MDRT member. He has since striven to uphold a balance among all aspects of his life: family, business, spirituality, personal and civic engagement. Because of MDRT, he sought ways to strengthen his civic and social responsibility, and has a long history of supporting youth programming.

Prolman sees Challenge Day as having the most lasting and far-reaching effect on today’s youth. Programs like Challenge Day are desperately needed, and the organization is quickly expanding to meet the demand for their services. “This is the most important thing I have done in my life,” said Prolman. “I’m MDRT. That’s what we do. We make things happen.”