LEARNING NOT TO TAKE A PRIVILEGED LIFESTYLE FOR GRANTED
Learning to serve others gives teens a barometer of just how lucky they are. Andrew W., a junior in Fernandina Beach, Florida, spent his spring break with his church group in Juarez, Mexico, building homes for local families. Over the years, they have put up more than 3,000 concrete homes.
Andrew said, "They were hugging us, and it was pretty awesome. I learned a lot about teamwork, and I learned how fortunate we are. It makes you not take anything for granted. Not at all."
Father Jonathan Meyer, assistant director of youth and young adult ministry at the Archdiocese of Minneapolis, says parents should jump at the chance to help their kids volunteer. Meyer says, "Doing [this work] will help their homes, schools, families, and the well-being of their children."
Caroline S., a senior in Indianapolis, has traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi twice on Father Meyer's trips. She scrubbed mildew off walls, stripped floors, and scraped the toxic ick Hurricane Katrina had left on homes.
"As a teenager, you can be so self-centered and saying, ‘me, me, me' all day long. This work really got my mind off my own problems and focused on what people in my own country are dealing with."
Leif Christiansen has been working with youth for two years in his position as the AmeriCorps VISTA project leader in San Jose, California. Christiansen feels the key to getting teenagers to volunteer is treating them more like adults by giving them real information on hunger, being homeless, child abuse, etc.
"Sometimes it's harder for [teenagers] to understand that the impact they're making is huge. But they're going to be future leaders. They're going to be much more prepared [and informed] when they go into college. They are an inspiration to their younger brothers and sisters. They are the answer to a lot of our nation's problems."
The volunteering vibe-which can ripple down for generations and across oceans-must start somewhere. Why shouldn't it be with you and your teen?
Alonzo F. 07/20/08
There are so few ways that any of us can feel effective in the world these days – so it’s inspiring to hear that teens are building houses in Mexico. I would love to hear our government going to New Orleans to do what these teens are doing.
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