As Washington-area students report back to school, the stress seems enough from algebra and English, SATs, college essays and where to sit in the school cafeteria. Add to that their issues often hidden – the relationships, the peer pressures – and opportunities abound for dangerous behaviors. Shepherd Smith, 65, founded the Institute for Youth Development in 1996 to help youth combat those pressures, and choose healthy lifestyles. He spoke with The Washington Examiner about the faith that drives his desire to nurture tomorrow’s leaders.

Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?