One student from Oktaha realized the need to have healthier options at her school and decided to actually do something about it. So Olivia Shackelford became a member of Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) to make a difference in her area.

Shackelford, who attends Oktaha where her mother teaches, noticed there weren’t many healthy options at the school’s concession stand so she became an advocate for change.

“My name is Olivia, but everyone calls me Livy,” Shackelford said. “I am a sophomore at Oktaha High School, but I live in Eufaula. I became a member of the Youth Action for Health Leadership, or YAHL, because it is a TSET-funded state wind youth-led initiative that partners with schools and organizations to make a meaningful and measurable impact on Oklahoma by promoting healthy behaviors, which I believe we need in all of our schools. So I organized two Elevate Student Health events at my school. Elevate Student Health is one of the YAHL campaigns focused on improving the overall well-being of students which includes having clean drinking water, healthier concession options, and more time for physical activity during the school day.

“When I held my first event, I was a little nervous but a friend offered to help me take surveys and we managed to get more than 25 people to take the Elevate Student Health survey. My second event went even better because we decided to hold the event during lunch hour at Oktaha High School. As we discussed the importance of the Elevate Student Health campaign we collected even more surveys than the first event.

“Being part of YAHL has been a journey for me because when I first started I wasn’t sure about the program. I really wasn’t sure if I could get in front of people and speak up for change. However, after hosting my first event, I realized how much of a difference we can make in our communities if we advocate for change when we see the need. Now, I’m grateful that I did it.”

As a part of YAHL, Shackelford also works on CounterAct Tobacco, which is an initiative working to move the power out of big tobacco’s hands and into ours through comprehensive tobacco retail licensing.

“Vaping and e-cigarettes has become a huge problem with teens, especially within the school system. Of course there’s the peer pressure from friends who vape because they think it’s cool. However, now companies are also targeting young people and they have added flavors like cotton candy, strawberry kiwi, and banana to entice their taste buds and keep them coming back for more. So we need to bring more awareness to our communities and advocate for change. This is why we are going to the Capital soon to speak with legislators to hopefully push policies to keep vaping off school campuses.

“I believe that being part of YAHL has given me the chance to make a real difference in my school and community. I have definitely gained confidence and I’ve improved my public speaking which will help me in future endeavors.

“Looking ahead, I’m excited about holding more events and bringing more awareness to our area schools. Next year, I hope to hold more events at my school and participate in the Take Down Tobacco Day. I want to continue making a positive impact and helping my fellow students lead healthier lives by making healthier choices.”

Besides being active in her school through YAHL, Shackelford is also on the Robotics team and Student Council.

She has been a member of Eufaula First Baptist Church since birth and very active in their youth group as well.

Volunteering in her community is a huge part of Shackelford’s commitment to help others. She is active with the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention under Sharina Little, and has participated in the Suicide Prevention Walk last year and plans to participate again in September of this year.

She also volunteers at the Eufaula pound, working with Paws N Claws – Eufaula to help socialize and find new homes for abandoned dogs in McIntosh County. She truly believes in their motto: Don’t just make a statement, make a difference.

“I hope to make a positive difference every day in the lives of others and plan to push for change when we see the need. Being part of YAHL has been an incredible experience and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”