I promised to be more wordy, yet I didn’t follow through. I’m sorry. Lately I’ve been swamped with my summer camp job as an Resident Assistant/Counselor at Upward Bound. It’s been hard to think about anything YMCA related since I arrived on the college campus where UB is based. Though I haven’t been in a YMCA since I left Stillwater, Upward Bound has helped me better understand the YMCA’s mission and the community’s need for it.
At Upward Bound we work with at-risk high school students, ages 15 – 18, high school freshmen to college freshmen. These students typically come from lower income families with backgrounds full of abuse, drugs, alcohol, sex, neglect, suicidal thoughts and more than I can fully grasp.
When I joined the Upward Bound staff, others said that I was in for quite an experience, that they felt sorry for me and that I’d be exhausted. They were right about some things – my experiences have been incredible and I’ve struggled a few times to be strong. Yet others have no possible reason to feel sorry for me. I wouldn’t trade working with these kids for anything. They’ve touched my heart with their stories, spirits and friendship.
The teens have illustrated how much we need positive, caring influences in our lives, especially as kids. So many of them have been taught that they’re basically a waste of space and don’t deserve to do or be anything incredible. This has affected their self-esteem and personal success in many aspects of their lives, including academics, social arenas, emotional balance, physical abilities and more. Teens need others to show them how lovable and worthy they are. This might help reduce so many issues that teens face on a regular basis.
Yet how do we help them develop into confident, successful individuals? We should begin loving and instilling a sense of value in others from 6 days old to 110 years old. Everyone needs love and respect no matter their age.
Parents and non-parents can help our youth develop positively right now, wherever they may be. Kids need positive, caring influences in their lives. You have no idea how you might help change a life for the better simply by caring.
So, how does this link back to the YMCA mission?
Stillwater Family YMCA’s Mission Statement:
To serve Stillwater and surrounding comminutes by providing programs based upon Christian values, which promote the health and well-being of youth, families, and senior citizens regardless of their economic ability.
We want to help our community members to be healthy and have overall well-being. Our kids and teens need us to be there for them, to care and to teach them how to succeed. They need us to care when no one else seems to care, to encourage and guide them.
Some of our youth are basically journeying through life alone. They need and deserve more than that. They need you to help them.
True, volunteering your time can be difficult to manage with several other committments, but it’s worth it. More than anything, youth teach you what it’s like to feel young again, how to care deeply and how to become a better, stronger person.
We may not like it, but youth look to us for guidance in how to become adults. They may accept or reject our lifestyle choices, but do you really want to only offer a negative model for them? I doubt that.
Filed under: YMCA | Tagged: active youth, community needs, self esteem, serving youth, teens, Upward Bound, YMCA, youth works
