On Friday someone asked me if the youth of America cares about volunteer work. We were discussing volunteer work (he has many working for his non-profit Amazing Things.
He was asking my why young people don't volunteer. I told him I often volunteer at MassAudubon's Drumlin Farm. I also explained that pretty much every event I'm one of the youngest voluneers (and I'm 29). I defended the youth of America and said: "well perhaps they don't have time...I know the good kids that go to girlscout camp must deep down want to do volunteer work."
Now I'm taking back my words. I used to have time to build tree forts, have water ballon fights (using winter sleds as a shield), play kickball, play softball, hike, go tubing in the river...and more. I'm wondering why kids near me don't do volunteer work. Some do with their parents. Do they ever do it alone? Do kids today say: "Mom, can I go help do the Maple Syrup Breakfast at Drumlin Farm?"
The reason I'm taking back my words is because I just came from the D'Angelo in Sudbury MA. Three teen boys were working the counter. Yes, it's 93 degrees out and 1000% humidity, but they were cool in their a/c. I'm starting to think they had more zits than brain cells (yes: you!).
I waited about 20+ minutes for my order (c'mon kids, my lavendar is gonna wilt in the car!). There were 3 of them and only one woman ahead of me. I asked for my lobster roll toasted. Too confusing to toast the bread. Yes. That would be yes. The poor woman and her young daughter before me asked for two turkey sandwiches. They threw 2 slices of turkey on a piece of lettuce and charged close to $7. The woman came back in from her car. I laughed with her in the parking lot and shook my head and thought: "The teens today are slackers." My lobster sandwich was horrible. The last time I got it there (shout out to Natick D'Angelo on Rte 9 West)...it was amazing. It was not drenched in mayo...it was not just 6 lobster chunks. It was delish.
I'm sorry, but when I was a teen I had to ride my bike to get ice cream. Mommy would not drive me unless we were on our way somewhere else. And btw, our parents never drove us to school. I understand in my town the bus system is kinda fucked up (watched the town meeting on local cable last night) but that's no reason to stay at home until it's time for the kids to go to school (unless the kid has issues about riding the bus which my neighbor's kid does).
All right, back to America's Youth. I'm a Gen-Xer and we often have the rep of being slackers. I've never met a Gen-Xer that only has 1 job. Often people in my generation have 2 jobs (or more). The reason? Because the house I bought for $275K is now worth a tad under $500K just 6 summers later. I know the real estate bubble rumor. And I don't see it coming here...there's more demand than supply and that ain't ever gonna change. Plain and simple. So taxes on a tiny 3 bedroom 'starter home' like mine are painful, and then comes paying for grad school. My mother often tells me how much I have compared to my peers. That may be true...but some of my peers have more. So we're the lazy generation? Damn lazy Gen X-ers better stop starting their own companies and live up to being lazy. And the Gen Y kids often start businesses out of their dorm rooms. Not sure what the Gen after Y is called, but it should be called the "NO BRAIN CELLS Gen." Any takers on that name?
So I'm going to send an e-mail to D'Angelo. Or I'll have my husband do it. I've never seen lazier kids on the job (okay outside of my local Stop & Shop). These kids were so stupid and lazy it was embarassing to watch. Toasted BREAD. I told my husband and he said: "Well, it's not Quiznos!" *sigh*
Sorry if I offend any teens. But if you are as lazy and dumb as the kids I've been seeing around town...then I have no pitty for you. Wise up. Because there's no way in hell I would ever sell you my house in the future if you can't tend to the roses (or work 3 jobs to pay someone else to do it). These are the kids I'll hand my job over to when I retire? I think not.
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Comments: 18
Glad to put a fresh topic out there. :)
*pat on back for doing volunteer work because you wanted to*
I think the kids who do volunteer are few and far between and become better adults for it. And the adults like yourself who volunteer also make the world a better place. Often the most rewarding jobs are the ones with no compensation!
I'm confident they will turn out just fine with your guidance! :)
I understand what you are saying here and I think volunteering for young people needs to be reorganized as opportunities for learning.
Groups like Americorps (which is National) and City Year in Boston do just that. It's a structure that gives these kids opportunities for professional development and the ability to learn and a structure that is now always available through community groups when young people volunteer.
At the same time, I think parents don't often sit down and suggest to their kids they volunteer. When I was a kid, I had 3 choices once I got to old for camp:
1. volunteer
2. get a part-time job
or
3. go to summer school
By college, I had done all 3. And thee were times when I worked and volunteered.
Recently in my coaching practice, I have noticed that it is becoming rarer and rarer that a client in their 20 something has had a parent that guided them this way and I think it makes all the difference in the world.
When I was 11 or 12 I picked blueberries on a farm and that was HARD work. One rule: "watch your back for the bears!"
We were given the task and sent out to the field just like the olden days. We did not need someone cracking a whip and saying "PICK the berries, and don't forget to bring your loaded crate up the hill when you are done. And no stems!"
When I was a teen I babysat and respected the rules of my neighbors house "no friends over, no neighborhood kids over" They did not have a nanny cam to make sure I did not smoke weed and have boys over. They just trusted me (and that the other neighbors would turn me in if they saw something off key).
I've always worked better with a 'hands off' manager.
Kids of today should not have a hand held. Goodness knows when I was 17 and bagging groceries at Stop & Shop no one held my hand and I was quickly promoted to cashier. It's not just me...the kids then really appreciated the fact they had a job at all!
You can put a link to it for now...and I'll join your group and publish something else to it soon (I promise!) Thank you so much: here's the link to this article: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976761000 )
I agree about guidance from the parent as you have said. Sometimes that guidance can also come from a boss at work or a fave teacher too. :)
Thanks for your great feedback!
I have known a few community colleges that made volunteer hours a requirement for graduation and some colleges that require them for admission. I think this should be more widespread.
When I was a Domestic Violence program director I had a high school girl give me a call and ask me to speak to a group she had formed at her school. She had developed a mentorship program where Juniors and Senior mentored Freshmen and Sophmores. They had decided to make domestic violence and our shelter their keystone project. These girls were phenomenol. They did all the fundraising necessary to redecorate rooms in our shelter. Once or twice a year they came by on a Saturday and did a complete and beautiful redo of a room or two, including bath and hallways. Their goal was to eventually redecorate all ten bedrooms.
The young lady who started it all went to college after the first year but continued to work with the group and expanded it into her college.
I was very impressed with her and hope she continues to do well.
One of the most important factors in their success was parental involvement. Most of the parents stayed in the background but their support was obvious. You could tell that volunteerism was a family affair and I strong believe that volunteerism can be done as a family.
The other day at Taco Hell the manager himself did not even know how to run the cash register. I was there after 10pm because after I got back from my cousin's I realized my hubby was working to hard to make himself dinner. Anyway, thanks for sharing the tale about the Domestic Violence program! That is really great.
See, my parents don't volunteer unless I take them with me...so I guess it's the kid showing the parents in my case. :)
I've been teaching now about twenty five years and I can say with some authority that the amount of altruism among teens has declined over time. However, some volunteerism by teens is not altruistic at all. They do it to get a good looking resume. Does that make it voulunteerism?
The most troubling thing to me is not the lack of altruism among teens but the lack of values among young men. Male teens are generally less socially acute. I accept that. However, young men are getting worse and worse. Most young women have an idea about what they are doing and where they are going. Young men are lost.
Volunteerism isn't any more or less altruistic than any work an individual does. After twenty five years of 'helping people', I advised my sons to pick another career besides teaching. My entire adult life has been spent doing volunteer work at least part of the time. I don't know if anything we do can 'help' if those we help don't have some small desire to be helped. Furthermore, many times 'helping' actually hurts people.
Okay - that sounds pretty bitter.
I think your comments are worthwhile and important to hear. I guess I am giving a little bit of counterpoint to the issue. Hope that is okay.
My day job may be working with clients and customers...but I'm helping them have a less painful job and for this I'm proud. My volunteer work is to teach people. Thanks for the points you brought up.
I could not agree with you more. Thanks os much for publishing this.
And yes, I agree. I am only 26 but am seriously worried about the future of our country when I see the middle & high school kids of today... Spoiled, lazy, selfish and obsessed with drinking, drugs and sex (12 year olds drinking, drugging and having sex - I kid you not). I know I may sound old saying this, but it really frightens me! Glad I'm not the only one who notices this....
Oh, so glad you've been to Drumlin. Btw, their breakfast sausages are out of this world! :) Always good to know where the food comes from.
Anyway, I can't imagine having sex at 12. I was not even a woman yet. In fact, I did not start to mess around with boys until I was 14...but I met my husband when I was 17 (we're now pushing 30). But thanks for the tip, it looks like I'll put my future daughter (if I have any) on the pill the minute she turns 10...no locker room knock-ups for my girl!!
My older grandson volunteers for special school events and also helps out the teachers when he can. He was a "reading buddy" last year, but since he went to middle school this year, he had no younger ones to read with.
Kids learn by example. My daughter and I are both active volunteers at their schools and have been for 7 years, since the older one started kindergarten. Because they see us volunteer, they are quick to help others.