Discover Your Power To Make a Difference

One of the very best things about teenagedom is your new-found power. Kids have very little power-they get few choices and have little control over what they do. This makes sense as most kids don't have the ability to make good choices for themselves. But, as you approach adulthood, the experiences you have had give you a background to make wiser decisions and your ability to reason matures. You usually know what is the best path to follow in any given situation-that doesn't always mean you make the best choices and hopefully you are learning from your mistakes-as we all do.

The power you now have enables you to make decisions and use your time and abilities to influence the lives of others. Sometimes, you may feel quite small and insignificant in a world as big as ours-but-you have the power to effect change. You can choose to live your life in such a way that making a difference and helping others is an important way for you to spend your time and energy.

You may already be involved in volunteering and service. Many high schools have a community service requirement for graduation. Or, your religion may sponsor a youth group that devotes some of its time to service projects. You may belong to an organization such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs or 4-H that includes service activities as a part of its program. If you spend time doing community service, how does spending this time make you feel? Research shows that the majority of people who volunteer discover that what they get in return is often equal to what they give. Their feelings of self-esteem increase. They feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments. They make new friendships. Their feelings about people in general become more positive as they work with others on similar goals. If you don't belong to an organized youth group and the idea of belonging to one interests you , you can look in your yellow pages or on the Internet for information on how to join.

You can also do volunteer work on your own or with a group of friends you organize yourself. One place to start is at school. For example, your school may not have a recycling program for paper, glass and plastics. You can speak to the administration about the advantages-environmental as well as financial-of recycling waste. You can ask to have the money the recycling program saves put towards other environmental initiatives in your community. Or, your school may not have a peer tutoring program or a peer conflict resolution program. You can be instrumental in getting a group to volunteer to tutor or to volunteer to be trained to mediate student conflicts and in getting administrative support.

Another place to start is close to home. What do you think is a problem in your neighborhood or community that you can fix? Does your community have vacant lots? You can get a group -not just teens but a group of concerned neighbors-to help clean up the lots and plant and maintain a community garden. Is there a women's shelter nearby? Organize a drive to collect books and toys in good condition to donate or donate some time to organize games and activities for the kids. Has drinking become a major teen activity on the weekends? Help organize a Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) group or a Safe Rides program that offers rides home on Saturday night to anyone that calls.

You can also use your talents and interests to lead you to volunteering. Are you artistic? Organize an arts class at a nursing home or children's shelter or volunteer at a local museum. Love animals? Animal shelters always need volunteers, not only to help at the shelter itself but to help with fundraising. Good at sports? Work with younger kids by coaching or starting a program that teachers your special sport. Love kids? Volunteer for story time at the library or to offer after-school homework help. Make a list of your skills and interests and then match them to the needs of your community-you will find many ways that you can help.

When you volunteer, you believe in your ability to make a difference. You believe that you are a powerful person who can influence and help others. You are also making the world a better place for others-and yourself-to live in. Your volunteer achievements will help you with your college application and your future jobs-but more importantly, will help you grow and believe more strongly in yourself.