Monday, May 14, 2007
Haley Kilpatrick
Remember being a teen and feeling like no one "gets you" -- remember middle school? Haley Kilpatrick remembers it well. In fact, she relives it everyday, not for nostalgia but to help other teenage girls get through the drama. Kilpatrick started Girl Talk, an organization that encourages candid conversation, independence and self-worth.

At the age of 15, Kilpatrick saw her little sister's struggles with fitting in at school. A heart-to-heart between sisters inspired Girl Talk. Kilpatrick launched a student-to-student mentoring program in her middle school and high school in Albany, Georgia, that quickly grew to become Girl Talk, a national nonprofit organization in 21 states, reaching more than 10,000 girls.

As her reach grows, Kilpatrick, now 21 and a college student in Kennesaw, Georgia, speaks to and motivates other young people, teachers and administrators around the country on the importance of mentoring. Kilpatrick believes that with the right resources and moral guidance, young girls can make it past the daily trials of middle school and get to their dream. After all, it's a message coming from Haley Kilpatrick, who's already "got it."

Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview
Ms. Kilpatrick is a shing example of Young People Who Rock. Caring enough to care for kids in a very critical and often turbulent age range, she's 100% accurate in her assement on mentoring. Affecting a generation towards positive change through self-esteem building is addictive and welcome. When we step outside our own shoes and meet a human need, we, like Ms. Kilpatrick, 'Get it.' Many will go through life and 'Miss it' which opens another oportunistic door for a new Young Person to Rock. Thanks Ms. Kipatrick for thinking from the heart.
I'm excited to see this interview. It seems like Kilpatrick is more than just a counselor for young growing women, which I find extremely important. People forget that middle school can be really tough on girls who are learning about life in this fast paced society and at the same time forget to give them a lending hand.
Kilpatrick is the link from young to old - what is she going to do she starts losing that personal understanding with girls when they seem to pay more attention to celebrities like Paris Hilton who endanger their lives by lowering their ethics?
This post has been removed by the author.
Haley is an inspiration to everyone who is blessed by meeting her or hearing her speak! she has moved me to tears more than once, and I hope Girl Talk continues in middle schools everywhere!
ABOUT THIS BLOG

Young People Who Rock is a weekly interview series focused on people under 30 -- from CEOs to entertainers to athletes to community and political leaders -- who are doing remarkable things. CNN Anchor Nicole Lapin introduces them here, then interviews them Fridays on CNN.com Live. Log on in the 3 p.m. ET hour to catch the interviews.
GET INVOLVED
Know someone who rocks?
Maybe your neighbor or your friend? Let us know.

Got a question for the interview?
Fire up your camera and send it in, then look for your video on CNN.com Live.
SUBSCRIBE
    What's this?
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.