From pill testing to social media addictions, the crowd at Tuesday's Lions Youth of the Year contest was treated to analysis of local and global issues.
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Through his own experiences, Carroll College student Nick Parr captivated the audience by expressing the impact mobile phones and social media have on peoples lives.
Nick was one of four students who stood before a panel of judges at the Moruya Golf Club on Tuesday, February 19.
READ ALSO: Stephanie Lunn named Youth of the Year 2019
He presented a creative speech on peoples addiction to mobile phones, or as Nick names "personal dopamine factories".
"A vast majority of people can not bear to put down their phone for a single second to be alone with themselves to reflect on the absurdity and the beauty of the world around them," he said.
He continued to talk about the power of technology and how it has altered the way youth react to their surroundings.
READ ALSO: Youth speaks out on pill testing.
"When faced with the struggle to find unity with thought, we escape the persecution and uncertainty of reality through fruitless activities such as social media, video games and Netflix," he said.
"In any given moment in time, we as individuals as part of a network of billions, have the collective power in thought to influence the future of our planet and the lives of those who dwell there."
"All we have to do to realise this magnificent potential is to look up."
Listen to Nick's speech in the video above.