Make a Difference: Put Your Teen Energy and Enthusiasm to Work!

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)

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.

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

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

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.