Many people say that young people today have it harder than any generation before them.

It’s debatable whether that’s true. Social issues such as peer pressure, drug use and teen pregnancy may have become more rampant, but this generation also has resources and opportunities that even their mothers and fathers, not to mention their grandparents or great-grandparents, never could have dreamed about having.

Even so, it is important for young people to take a leadership role in the opportunities and resources that are presented to them — not only because it helps adults understand their viewpoint but also because it prepares them for positions of power in adult life.

That’s why the Youth Empowerment Forum, held on an end-of-semester day off from school on Monday, was so important. About 75 teens gathered to talk about the issues of the day, including healthy eating, teen violence, teen pregnancy, teen dating, domestic violence and more.

The Suffolk Youth Advisory Council and the Office on Youth sponsored the program. The 20 members of the advisory council were in attendance and helped facilitate the conversation, along with adults placed strategically at the tables.

Jennifer Branham, youth outreach coordinator for the city, said the information gleaned from the youth during the event will be incorporated into the Office on Youth’s strategic plans for youth services.

There’s really no loser in the entire event. The only disappointing thing is that more young people did not attend.

The adults involved may have learned a thing or two about what the young people in their community are faced with. The city gets some valuable information. And the young people, most of all, gained leadership experience that will serve them well down the road.