2. Who Am I? Hi, I’m Onyx, I go to Perry Beeches School and I want to become a Member of Youth Parliament! I am good at speaking and getting my point across but I’m also a good listener. I am friendly and approachable and all I want to do is help people. I am a confident person when it comes to expressing my opinions, and I will hopefully get the chance to express yours too. I want Every young person and teenager to have a voice, and I want to be the one to give you that voice.

3. What do I believe? As a teenager, I understand the things you all have to go through. There are many things we have to deal with from exam pressures to celebrity influences, and I think that we need to be respected and appreciated more by adults. I am here for you, I’m one of the you and all I want to do is try and get rid of the negative image of teenagers in society, and also try and make growing up an easier chapter of our lives.

4. My Policies I am particularly interested in 3 areas: *School Lifestyles *Environment

5. School School has a big impact on the people we become. I feel that it’s the duty of the school you attend to help form you as a person. It’s important that our schools help us get good exam grades combined with giving us the life skills of being a good citizen. School should supply us with the best resources and the best support to make sure that we are given the best academic opportunities and the best start to life. Schools should also enforce a respect agenda, which means there is a mutual respect between staff and students and between students and other students. By doing this, we will feel happier going to school and our staff will be more willing to help us.

6. Healthy Lifestyles Being healthy is extremely important! I feel that as young people, we need things to do to keep us out of trouble. I don’ think that there’s nothing for us to do, I just think that it’s all too expensive. This is where I want to work on getting a student discount for recreational facilities, for people in secondary education, meaning the government are encouraging healthy living and also we have things to keep us occupied. I also want to focus on the negative influence some celebrities have on us. We are probably the most vulnerable age group as we are growing up and worrying more about our appearance. I want to work towards getting rid of the theory about having to be thin to be accepted. It’s polluting the minds of young people all over the world, and it has to stop.

7. The Environment There are many negative effects of global warming but there are lots of things we can do to help. I am very interested in the following: *Cheaper fares for the use of public transport – this will encourage more people to take the bus or the train. *Recycling in schools- this is very important but it’s not being done. If your school recycles enough, they are given some money which means there are more benefits for you!! * I also want more people to walk to school and I even want to put in place a “school bus” system for young people in Birmingham.

8. Famous Quotes *Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama *Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King Jr. If you want something to happen, something to change, then you have to step up and try to make a difference. There is no point in leaving it to other people because it won’t get done. If you vote ONYX, there will be many opportunities for you to voice your opinions through me, so please, even if it seems unrealistic and “you can’t see the whole staircase”, let me know, I would love to help. Don’t forget to VOTE ONYX first though!

9. Why Vote for Me? There are so many things that I want to achieve but I can only achieve them if you vote for me. I want to do everything in my power to make these changes to Birmingham, our city, that will make your lives easier and more enjoyable. I want the negative view of teenagers and young people to be erased and I want people to realise what a valuable group of people we are.

10. So Please….