Saying Yes: The Brave Moments That Change a Young Person’s Life
Childhood is full of tiny crossroads, moments where a young person can step forward, hold back, or not even realise an opportunity is waiting for them. In my work with young people, I’ve seen how one small ‘yes’ can change everything. And honestly, I know that because saying yes changed my life too.
Confidence doesn’t arrive in one big moment. It grows through small, brave decisions. I see it all the time in coaching sessions and youth clubs: a young person saying yes to joining an activity they’ve never tried before, and something shifts. They realise they did something they weren’t sure they could do. Those tiny wins stack up quietly in the background, becoming proof they can return to when they doubt themselves.
Every yes expands a child’s world. I’ve seen pupils who had reservations join sessions with an older peer and realise they’re capable of more than they thought. I’ve watched young people say yes to helping with a community project and suddenly see themselves as someone who contributes. Variety teaches them that the world is something to explore, and that they deserve to be a part of it.
And ‘yes’ builds belonging. I’ve seen children walk into sessions unsure if they fit, then say yes to joining a game or sharing an idea. Suddenly they’re laughing, contributing, feeling seen and accepted. In coaching sessions, pupils say yes to opening up, yes to giving it a go, yes to celebrating their progress. That sense of belonging is one of the strongest predictors of engagement and wellbeing.
Saying yes is also courage. Even small opportunities can feel huge. I’ve watched young people say yes even when everything in their body language is telling them no, yes to performing, yes to leading, yes to trying again. Every yes teaches them they can do hard things, learn from mistakes and grow.
When I talk to young people about saying yes, I’m not speaking from theory, I’m speaking from experience. I didn’t grow up with a plan or a major goal, but every time I said yes, even when I wasn’t sure I was ready, something incredible happened.
My own ‘yes’ moments took me further than I ever expected. Saying yes at 16 to a youth programme connected me to the YMCA and opened doors I didn’t even know existed. That one yes led to becoming an apprentice, stepping into permanent roles, and eventually becoming a YMCA youth ambassador - representing young people across the UK on major platforms! Those ‘yes’ moments carried me across the world to represent young people internationally, to Parliament and 10 Downing Street to hand in petitions, and allowed me to work alongside politicians to ensure young people aren’t just spoken about, but spoken with. It gave me not only a seat at the table, but also an invitation to sit down, speak up and stay a while. None of those moments were part of some grand plan. They were simply the result of saying yes, again and again, even when I felt nervous, unsure, or convinced someone else would be better suited.
Those experiences shaped who I am as a youth worker. They taught me that young people don’t need certainty, they need chances. They need invitations. They need adults who believe in them enough to say, “Try it. Say yes. See what happens.”
Children can only say yes when opportunities are visible, support is available and they feel safe enough to take up space. When we create those conditions, when we celebrate effort, remove barriers and cheer them on, yes becomes easier.
Saying yes in childhood isn’t about being busy. It’s about being brave. It’s about discovering who you are, what you love and what you’re capable of. Every yes is a step toward confidence, belonging and possibility. And when we give children the chance to say yes, and the belief that they can, we’re not just offering opportunities - we’re opening futures.
