Brendan Yorke, 18, has more medal hardware on his shelf than most teenagers. The former co-president of his high school, the Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro, NS, graduated with the Queen Elizabeth II Medal and the Principal's Medal, among others. The Canadian Red Cross recently announced he was the winner of a Humanitarian Award for creating CEC Active Youth, a student-run organization that raises finds for non-profit organizations, and connects youth with volunteer opportunities at hospitals, schools and extended care-facilities. Saltscapes spoke with Brendan about hanging out, putting the kibosh on complacency and watching Star Wars.
Darcy: A university in North Carolina awarded you a scholarship of $140,000, but you're taking a year off to build houses and help AIDS victims and orphans in Ghana. Will you ever get to university?
Brendan: I don't see any rush in getting to university. I want some real-world experience. I'm also doing Outward Bound-we're going mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada.
Darcy: Do you find it scary to be out of high school?
Brendan: It's a little bit daunting because you're leaving a place of comfort for the real world, but I'm ready for the next step… You lose touch with some people, but there's always Facebook.
Darcy: Where do most teens in Truro spend their time?
Brendan: There are two fair trade cafes in town with open mic-singing, guitar. Victoria Park is also a great place. It's a refuge for me. I usually run there.
Darcy: What's your favourite thing to do with your family?
Brendan: Watch movies like Star Wars… It's one of those epic films, great for its time.
Darcy: When you really want a break from it all, what do you do?
Brendan: I paint and listen to audio books: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings.
Darcy: You sure are into fantasy.
Brendan: I like something that's out of the ordinary.
Darcy: People must tell you all the time how great you are. Do you ever find yourself battling pride?
Brendan: I have a lot of pride in what I've done, but I also recognize that in every case there was a team behind me. It's never been a real problem. Part of that might be my Christian background. My family is pretty religious.
Darcy: Is that how you stay humble?
Brendan: Yeah, I'm a kind of conduit, a means to an end. I haven't gotten here on my own. Does that make sense?
Darcy: I hear a reluctance to talk about this. Don't you want the world to see you as religiously motivated?
Brendan: I shouldn't feel this way, but in today's society, it's frowned upon or even mocked.
Darcy: When presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award at your graduation, you said later you didn't remember accepting it. What kinds of things make you nervous?
Brendan: Speaking in front of a large group of people always makes me nervous, but when I start talking, the fear goes away. At times I fear that I do too much and I won't retain quality in my work. Overstretching yourself can be dangerous.
Darcy: Where does your drive come from?
Brendan: That's one of the things I talk about with my friends. A lot of my family members are exceptional. I have a competitive nature.
Darcy: Competitive, but you seem to be driven to help people on a large scale.
Brendan: I've always wanted to change things. It's one of the reasons I want to go to Ghana. One of my long-term goals is to work for the UN.
Darcy: Is it injustice you want to fight?
Brendan: I find it frustrating that despite globalization, we're getting more narrow minded. And people seem to be taught the mantra that one person can't really do anything. It's that complacency that I'd like to change.
Darcy: If you could have one wish come true, what would it be?
Brendan: This is going to sound cheesy, but it would be aid for Third World countries. But if it just appeared in a cheque, I don't think that would solve anything. It's our mindset that needs to change.
Darcy: Most people would answer world peace to that question.
Brendan: I shy away from the typical answer.