make a difference: put your teen energy and enthusiasm to work!
DESCRIPTION
Volunteering in any capacity makes you a better person, inspires you to spread goodwill, and helps you grow in so many ways on a personal level. It is a win win for all involved.TRANSCRIPT
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ThisquotefromHelenKeller—author,politicalactivist,lecturer,andthefirstdeafandblindpersontoearnaBachelorofArtsdegree—isoneofmyfavorites.ItinspiresmetotakeresponsibilityforrepairingtheworldanditgivesmehopethatIcanmakeadifference.
TeenLifedevelopedthisguidetoinspireyoutomaketheworldabetterplaceandtoprovideyouwithpracticaladvicefordoingso.Ifyouarenotsurewheretobegin,thisguidewillhelpyougetgoing.Ifyoualreadyhaveideas,thisguidewillgiveyounewonestoconsider.Lendahand.Itfeelsgoodtodogood.
WHY COMMIT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Manymiddleandhighschoolsrequirecommunityserviceasaconditionofgraduation.Whetherornotyourschooldoes,serviceoffersmanybenefits—toothersaswellastoyourself.
Make the world a little betterYes,youcansingle-handedlyimprovethelivesofothers.Considertheimpactofhelpinganelderlyneighborwhonolongercanhandleyardwork,groceryshopping,orsimplyreadingtheSundaynewspaper.Orhowyoucouldbrightenthedaysofchildreninthehospitalbymakingcards,craftkits,andplaylistsofupbeattunes.Ortheimportanceofprovidingessentialstofamiliesinneedbydonatingbooks,schoolsupplies,andclothingtoalocalshelter.
Otherissuesaretoobigforanyonepersontoovercomealone,likesavinganimalsfromextinction,curinggeneticdiseases,reversingglobalwarming,orensuringaccesstocleanwater.
But,byworkingwithotherstohelpchipawayatuniversalproblems,youcanhaveapositiveimpactontheworld,aswell.
Accept responsibility as a citizen of the worldWhetheryouchoosetofocusonpeople,animals,ortheenvironment,therearecountlesswaystomakeadifference.Infact,therearesomanyproblemsintheworldthatit’snaturaltoquestionwhetheryoucanactuallyhaveapositiveeffect.Don’tgetstymied.Acceptresponsibilityfordoingyourpart.
Gain a sense of empowermentServicegivesyouthechancetodevelopyourleadership,communications,andinterpersonalskills,aswellasanoverallsenseofaccomplishment.Itbroadensyourworldviewandevenhasthepotentialtointroduceyoutocareerchoices.
Appreciate all that you haveAsabusystudent,itiseasytoobsessabouttheveryrealpressuresyouface.Butseeingfirsthandthechallengesothersfaceandthewayspeopleovercometheirchallengesprovidesvaluableperspectiveforyourownlife.
Strengthen your college applicationIn-depthserviceexperiencesmakeyouamoremulti-dimensionalandinterestingpersonandconsequently,astrongercandidateforacceptance.Collegeadmissionsofficersseethroughchecklistorsuperficialinvolvement,sodiscoveryourphilanthropicprioritiesandpursuethemwithpassion.
Make a Difference: Put Your Teen Energy and Enthusiasm to Work!
by Liz Suneby
“ALTHOUGH THE WORLD IS FULL OF SUFFERING, IT IS FULL ALSO
OF THE OVERCOMING OF IT.”
HelenKeller(1880–1968)
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by Liz Suneby
“ALTHOUGH THE WORLD IS FULL OF SUFFERING, IT IS FULL ALSO
OF THE OVERCOMING OF IT.”
HelenKeller(1880–1968)
GETTING STARTED
Evenifyouarecommittedtotheideaofcommunityservice,it’snaturaltofeeloverwhelmedabouthowandwheretogetstarted.AsanthropologistMargaretMead(1901–1978)said,“Neverdoubtthatasmallgroupofthoughtful,committedcitizenscanchangetheworld.Indeed,itistheonlythingthateverhas.”Looking Within
Interests & Talents: Thebestplacetostartisbylookingwithin—toyourinterestsandtalents.Connectingyourpassionstofixingproblemsintheworldwillleadyoutoideasintheshort-term,andhopefullytoalifelongcommitmenttosocialjusticeandservicetoothers.
Thinkaboutfavoriteacademicsubjects,after-schoolactivities,orissuesthatyoucaredeeplyabout.Isreadingthewayyouliketorelax?IsspeakingSpanishhowyouliketoconverse?Doeshikinginnaturebringyoujoy?Whataboutmakingmoviesonyourlaptop?Areyouhappiestwhenyouareplayingthepiano?Orkickingasoccerball?DoyouhaveagrandparentwithAlzheimer’sdisease?AfriendwithType1diabetes?Doyouknowsomeoneservingoverseasinthemilitary?Takealookatthetableontherighttostartbrainstorming.
Favorite school subjects: Math,art,biology,chemistry,environmentalscience,history,foreignlanguages,English…
Extracurricular interests: Acting,ceramics,band,chorus,dance,teamorindividualsports,studentgovernment,babysitting…
Hobbies/passions: Animals,biking,cooking,travel,crafts,camping,computers/electronics,gardening,movies,photography,yoga…
Universal issues: Educationforgirls,cleanwater,globalwarming,adoption,bullying,eatingdisorders,depression,domesticviolence…
STUDENTSforSERVICE teenvolunteershelp MILLIONTreesNYC plant20,000treesinparksthroughoutNewYorkinonesingleday.Seelistingonpage26.
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Volunteer your time: Haveyoueverheardtheexpression“Timeismoney”?There’snobettergiftthanthegiftofyourtime,effort,andenergy.Dependingontheopportunity,youcanvolunteeralone,withafriend,agroup,orwithaparentorothergrown-up.Youcanworkdirectlywiththeindividualsthenon-profitserves,helpwithadministrativedutiesintheoffice,cleanuporpaint,orassistatspecialevents.TrytodevoteATLEAST10hoursofyourtimetooneorganiza-tiontohavemoreimpact.Consideropportunitiesrightatyourschool,inyourcommunity,and/orasummerserviceopportunityinlocationsacrossthecountryandtheworld.
Collect goods for donation: Whatdoyouhavethatyoudon’tneedanymore,butsomeoneelsecoulduse?Gothroughyourcloset:whatclotheshaveyououtgrownthatsomeoneelsecouldwear?Howaboutusedsportsequipmentorbooksthatareingoodshape?Thinkaboutbroadeningyourreachbycollectingitemsfromfriends,neighbors,evenstorestodistributetoothersinneed.
Raise funds: Therearemultiplewaystoraisefundsfordonation.Youcanearnmoneybychargingforyourservices,suchassortingrecyclablesanddispensingtrash,shovelingsnow,babysitting,orfixingcomputers.Haveyoueverthoughtaboutorganizingyourownfundraiser,suchasabakesaleorcarwash?Youcouldparticipateinacharityrun/walk/readathonandraisemoneythroughsponsorships.
Buy items that help others: Anotherwaytoraisefundsistopurchasefromorganiza-tionsthatdonateapercentofthemoneytheyearntocharity.Whenyoubuythesebrandsoffoodorclothing,forexample,younotonlygetsomethingyouwant,butalsoyouhelpothers.Certainwebsitesandcatalogsdothesamething.Lookcarefullywhenyougoshoppingandencourageotherpeopletochangetheworldwithasimplepurchase!
Make your voice heard: Weliveinademocracywhereeverycitizen’svoicecounts.Whenyouturn18yearsoldyoucanvoteforpeoplewhosebeliefsaresimilartoyourstorepresentyourviewsintown,state,andnationalgovernment.Butyoudon’thavetowaituntilyouturn18tomakeyourvoiceheard.Makeyouropinionknowntogovernmentofficialsandencourageotherstodosoaswell.Writeletterstotheeditorinlocalandnationalpublicationsaboutissuesofconcerntoyou.Spearheadanessaycontestatyourschoolwithateacheroradministratorasyoursponsor.
Practice deliberate acts of kindness: Whiledeliberateactsofkindnessdonotqualifyforcommunityservicehours,itisimportanttoliveyourlifewithintegrity,compassion,andrespect.PerhapsthewriterHenryJamessummeditupbestwhenheproclaimed,“Threethingsinhumanlifeareimpor-tant:Thefirstistobekind.Thesecondistobekind.Andthethirdistobekind.”
Ways to Help: Onceyouhaveaphilanthropicfocus,therearemanywaysyoucanmakeadifference.Youcan:
Looking OutwardIdentify organizations to support: Howcanyoufindnationalorlocalorganizationsthatcouldbenefitfromyourinvolve-ment?StartyourresearchrightherewiththeorganizationslistedinTeenLife’s2012GuidetoCommunityService.Also,speaktoasmanypeopleaspossibleaboutorganizationsthattheyknowoforareinvolvedwiththatfityourinterests,includingyour:
•guidancecounselor •teachers •parentsandotherrelatives •neighbors •clergyandlayleadersatyourhouseofworship •friends
Clarify community service graduation requirements: Besureyouareawareofallparameters,including:
•numberofhoursperyearorintotal •approvedactivities •approvedorganizations •forms,signatures,anddeadlinesforsubmission
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Create a plan: Onceyouhaveideasforwhatyou’dliketodoandpotentialorganizationsyouwouldliketohelp,draftanactionplantoorganizeyourthinking.Include:
•asuccinctoverviewoftheserviceproject •objectives/goals •namesandcontactinformationforpeopleyou willneedtoworkwith •requiredmaterialsandapproximatecosts •schedule,notingkeymilestonesanddates •successmeasurements,includinghowothersand youwillbenefit
TEEN COMMUNITY SERVICE EXAMPLES
Thesereal-lifestoriesillustratehowafewteenshaveputtheirvariousinterestsandtalentstoworkforothers.
High School Girls Focus on Suicide PreventionAccordingtotheAmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention(AFSP),suicideisthethirdleadingcauseofdeath,behindaccidentsandhomicide,ofpeopleaged15to24.Whilethisstatisticisstartling,itwasthepersonalconnectiontoclassmateswhohadtakentheirlivesthatcausedLexyandJennifer,twohighschoolseniors,tofocusonsuicidepreventionfortheircommunityserviceproject.Thesegirlsapproachedalocal,family-ownedclothingshopintheirtownwithanideatosellhand-braidedbraceletsintheirstore.Theshopdonatedcolorfulclothandanassortmentofbuttonsandthegirlsbraidedandsoldthebraceletsinthestore.AllproceedsweredonatedtoAFSP(www.afsp.org)tosupporttheirworkinsuicideprevention.
Middle School Boys Organize Bone Marrow Registration DrivesForpeoplewithcertainbloodcancersordisorders,abonemarrowtransplantistheonlyhopeforsurvival.Savingalifeistheultimateservice,andexactlyhowmiddleschoolboysAndrewandJakewantedtomaketheirmarkontheworld.Together,andwiththehelpoftheirmothers,theboysorganizedtwobonemarrowregistrationdrivesforGiftofLife(www.giftoflife.org)ateventsintheirtown.Tospreadtheword,theboyspostedfliersaroundtown,andgottheirlocalpapertowriteastory.Thankstotheirhardwork,134peoplejoinedtheregistry.
Schoolmate Gives the Gift of FriendshipSamattendsabigpublicschoolandrealizedheneverhadthechancetointeractwithanyofthekidswithspecialneeds
whowereinaclassroomoftheirown.Soheapproachedthespecialneedsteacherandtogethertheydevisedaplan.ShepairedSamwithaboywithDownsyndrome,andthetwoboysatelunchtogetheronceaweekintheschoolcafeteriafortheentireschoolyear.Astheyearprogressed,bothboysoftenbroughtfriendstojointhem.Overlunch,Samandhisbuddyspokeaboutsports,food,andschoolandformedamutually-beneficialfriendship.
Math Student Tutors Younger KidsHigh-schoolstudentLindsay’sfavoritesubjectinschoolismath.Sincemiddleschool,shehasbeenvolunteeringtotutorelementaryschoolkidsinmathataprograminTeaneck,NewJerseycalledMathAdventuresandWordPlaythatoffersfreeaccesstotheentirecommunity.FortwohoursonSaturdays,Lindsayhelpskidscompletetheirhomeworkandstudyfortests.Manyofthestudentsintheprogramarenotabletoaffordatutor,whichmakesitespeciallyrewardingforLindsaytohelpotherkidsunderstandandenjoyasubjectsheknowssowell.
Actor, Singer, and Musician Shares Love of MusicAlexisanactor,singer,andmusician,whobyseventhgradehadcreditsonstageandTV.Appreciativeoftheartseducationheenjoyedinhisownschooldistrict,hewantedtohelpkidsinotherdistrictsthatwerenotabletoofferthesamelevelofopportunitiestotheirstudents.Alexusedthemoneyheearnedfromhisactingjobstopurchase21newandusedmusicalinstruments(4guitars,5trumpets,5clarinets,6flutes,andadrumset)anddonatedthemtoaperformingartspublicschoolinYonkers,NewYork.Asahighschoolstudent,Alexcontinuestousehiscreativetalentstohelpothers.Inadditiontoperforminglocallyforcharitableevents,hehastraveledtoLatinAmericafourtimesoncommunityservicetripsandalwaysfindsawaytoincorporatemusic,includingperforminginthelocalvillageswherehehaslived.Notsurprisingly,incollegeAlexplanstodoublemajorinmusicandLatinAmericanstudiesinordertomakepositivechangeinthatpartoftheworldthroughmusic,business,andeducation.
Tennis Enthusiast Raises Money for Multiple Sclerosis SocietyJillian,amiddle-schooltennisplayer,hostedaparent/childtennistournamenttoraisemoneyfortheMultipleSclerosisSociety,adiseasethataffectsherauntandgrandmother.Jilliangothertennisclubtodonatethespace,localsupermarketsandrestaurantstodonatefood,andseveral
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businessestodonateprizesforthewinners.Jillianaskedpeopletodonate$25withacheckmadeoutdirectlytoMultipleSclerosisSociety(www.nationalmssociety.org).Tomaximizecontributions,sheevenencouragednon-tennisplayerstoattendtowatchsomegreattennisforagreatcause.
Grateful Survivor Cooks for a CureHannah,acancersurvivor,cookedupherfamily'sfavoriterecipefordelicioushotfudgesaucetoraisemoneyfortheplayroomattheJimmyFundClinicatTheDanaFarberCancerInstitute(www.jimmyfund.org).Afteryearsofmakingthesaucewithhermomtogiveasholidaygifts,shecameupwiththeideatosellitinsteadtoraisemoneyforthechildren'splayroomwhereshehadspentmanyhoursduringtreatmentforleukemia.Hermomapproachedalocally-ownedgiftshop,andthatwaswhereHannahlaunchedhersales.Thisfirstsuccessfulretailexperiencewasthebeginningofmoretocome.
NON-PROFITS VALUE TEENS
Heardirectlyfromseveralnon-profitexecutivesabouttheirperspectivesonteenvolunteerism.
“Weappreciatetheincredibleenergyandenthusiasmofteenvolunteersatourannualeventssuchasatourfundraisingwalk,NAMIWalks(May12,2012,ArtesaniPark,SoldiersFieldRoad,Boston),andatourAdvocacyDayattheStateHouse(April2,2012).AtourAdvocacyDay,teenvolunteersinterestedingovernmentandpublicpolicyalsogettolearnaboutmentalhealthissuesinthestateandmeetaidestoourstate’selectedofficials.”CindyNelson,VolunteerCoordinator,NationalAllianceonMentalIllnessofMassachusetts(www.namimass.org)—improvingthequalityoflifebothforpeoplewithmentalillnessesandfortheirfamiliesthroughaware-ness,advocacy,andsupport.
AddsNelson,“Here’smyadvicetoteens—volunteerforanorganizationorcausethatyouaretrulypassionateabout.Itisimportanttoknowyourself—doyouwanttoworkwithotherteensinagroup,orareyouwillingtoworkalone?Doyouneedsomedirection,orcanyouworkindependently?Whatskillsdoyouhave—andwhatvolunteeropportunitiesareagoodmatch?”
"Also,becreative!Ifyoucan'tfindavolunteeropportunitythatinterestsyou,thenwriteaproposaltoanorganizationthataddresseswhyyouvaluetheirwork,presentshowyoucanhelpthemachievetheirmission,outlinestheresourcesyouwillneed(staffassistance,officespace,etc.),andthetimeyouarewillingtocommit,”saysNelson.
“OnewayteenshelpHeiferisbywritingpersonalizednotesthankingfriendsfortheirdonationandinterest,andinformingthemofupcomingHeiferevents.Donorshaveexpressedtheirgratitudeforapersonalizedcardandhowimpressedtheyarethatateenhastakentheinitiativetogetinvolved,”remarksRachel,AreaVolunteerCoordinator,EasternMA,HeiferInternational,Inc.(www.heifer.org)—givingfamiliesin128countriesself-relianceandhopewithasourceoffoodratherthanshort-termrelief.
“ProvidingavenueforpeopleofallagestogivebacktotheircommunitiesiscentraltoCradlestoCrayons’mission.Today’syoutharetomorrow’sleaders,soitisimportanttoengagetheminhigh-qualityvolunteerexperiencesandlead-ershipprograms.Weaimtoinspireyouthtofindtheirpassionforhelpingothersandtaketheleadincreatingchange."
"TeensmakeadifferenceeverydayatCradlestoCrayons.Justthismonth,ahighschoolstudentsawourhighneedforwintercoats.Shesavedupover$500fromherbabysit-tingmoneytopurchase20brand-new,high-qualitycoats.TeenslikeKarlyOettgenfeaturedonpage21alsoshineasvolunteersinourTeenLeadershipCorps.Thesestudentstakeanentiregroupof20-25volunteersintoaprojectarea,givethemorientation,andleadtheteamthroughatwo-hourvolunteershift.Theseteenshavetheconfidenceandinitiativetodirectadultsandpeers,answerquestions,andensurethatqualityworkisbeingdone,”explainsAshleyTarbet,GivingCorpsVolunteerManager,CradlestoCrayons(www.cradlestocrayons.org)—providinghomelessandlow-incomechildrenwiththeessentialstheyrequiretothrive:tofeelsafe,warm,readytolearn,andvalued.
Volunteeringinanycapacitymakesyouabetterperson,inspiresyoutospreadgoodwill,andhelpsyougrowinsomanywaysonapersonallevel.Itisawinwinforallinvolved.
LizSunebyistheauthorofbooksforchildrenandteens,includingTheMitzvahProjectBook:MakingMitzvahPartofYourBar/BatMitzvah…andYourLife,publishedbyJewishLights,andtheChildren’sChoiceaward-winning,SeeWhatYouCanBe:ExploreCareersThatCouldBeForYou.