The Corporation for National and Community Service reports that 55% of American teenagers volunteered in 2004 (double the rate of adult volunteers). There are so many great benefits when a teen volunteers including the fact that, according to several studies, kids who volunteer do better in school than those who don’t.
The many benefits of volunteering include teaching teens about respect and compassion. They are also less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. They are able to get a better sense of what the real world is like and learn respect for others, how to be helpful and how to understand people who are different from them. They can also develop leadership skills and gain a better understanding of what it means to be a good citizen. They also tend to have higher self-esteem. And these benefits and more, can be achieved from volunteering just a few hours a week. Teen volunteers can be seen throughout the community in hospitals, nursing homes, and community centers. Wherever there is a need in the community you may find a teen volunteering to help meet those needs.
Some of the reasons teens give for volunteering include having compassion for people who are in need and feeling that they can do something for a cause that they believe in. In addition, some teens volunteer in occupations where they plan to some day work in order to get a sense of whether the career path they are thinking about is the right one.
When you look at it, it’s a win-win situation for all involved. I was a late bloomer, starting my volunteering when I was 18. I can say that over the past 24 years I have volunteered for more projects than I can count. I can also say that I feel volunteering has been a tremendous impact on the type of adult I turned out to be. It’s great to hear that so many teens—and we’re talking 15 million youth contributing over a billion hours of community service— have made the decision to volunteer and to reap the benefits that come from doing so. As parents we should encourage our kids to volunteer. We also must set a good example by volunteering ourselves. Remember, we should strive to serve as role models for our kids.
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