Teen Involvement is Challenge for AA Month
By Robert D. Grupe, Prevention Coordinator
Cars, clothes, boyfriends, girlfriends, weekend plans, CD's, food . . . These are just a few of the many things that occupy a teenager's minds and money in today's world. Teens are, in this day and age, expected to do much more and be better at getting things done than ever before. There is an aspect of daily life that often gets neglected in a teen's quest to become an adult. This aspect has to do with community involvement and service. There are three big reasons for teens to get involved in the community.
Getting involved in the community allows the teen to gain a sense of ownership. Youth are constantly complaining that parents don't give them enough responsibilities and trust. Here is an excellent chance for youth to take part in what is going on in the community. Think of this from a work related perspective. The companies that are doing the best and have the happiest workers are those that give the employee a stake in the profits. Teenagers think along these same lines. Give them the opportunity to be a part of the proceedings and there will be teens willing to work with you to gain benefit. Everyone has that "What's in it for me" mentality in some part of their personality. There are many different organizations that would be very happy to have teens volunteer and be a part of the team.
The second reason, to be honest, is a perfectly selfish one for teens to volunteer and get involved. Volunteering looks good on college applications, resumes, etc. At first, as stated, this looks very selfish and should not be the ONLY reason that a teen gets involved. Academics are very important and play a large part in the selection process but consider this scenario. Two teens are up for the same position with similar grades, references, and interview skills. The person that will win in this case is usually the one that has the most extracurricular activities. Colleges and places of business want workers willing to get involved and work for change. This is a fact of life that cannot be ignored by any means. Therefore, it is a major consideration for teens getting involved with the community.
Finally, the simple fact remains that youth are going to be the ones to take over the liveliness of the community. Consider this possibility. At the age of fourteen, a teen sees someone doing a job that is exactly what they want to do when they grow up. Flash forward MANY years of college later and this dream becomes a reality. This is a concrete and true example from my life and experience. Through volunteering with various prevention groups and a college degree, I was able to align myself with the goal that I had chosen. It also perfectly illustrates this reason that teens will take over roles in the community. Teens realize this but feel that there is nothing that they can do right now or no one will give them the chance. Give them the support and let them know that it is perfectly all right to get involved. This support, along with the above reasons, will serve to better ground our teenagers in the ways that community works.
However, as it stands, something appears to be missing from this equation. The BIGGEST reason for getting involved with the community is a simple one. Simply put, getting involved in the community is FUN! There are so many things that you can do that will serve both yourself and others. For example, teens could: mentor someone younger, volunteer at the Y.M.C.A. or Park District, visit nursing homes, do yard work for people that cannot do it themselves, get involved with local prevention groups or volunteer at your church. There are so many different things that can be done to make the community a better place. The following is a challenge for the youth of the community to begin Alcohol Awareness Month. Begin to leave a positive mark on the community right now by getting involved. By leaving a few more positives than the generation before, begin to make the world a much better place. For more information on getting involved with the community and prevention/alcohol awareness month related activities, contact me at (217) 347-7179. Getting involved might be the most important thing you will ever do!