Volunteering for young people, a great builder of character

Volunteering for young people, a great builder of character Volunteering among high school and college students is a time of high and many school systems actually build volunteerism in their curriculum. Young people are building homes for Habitat for Humanity, working in National Park Conservation Corps, and participation in political, environmental and social. And 'certainly admirable for young people to participate actively in these cases, but may also be more important than generally recognized. Unfortunately, the United States is a materialistic society. Teenagers - many of them the same line with the boys volunteer their time - have access to more discretionary funds than any previous generation, and that is spent. CD, DVD, iPod, mobile phones (and bills), designer apparel, shoes and handbags - all the goods and equipment are within easy reach of many of our boys. Beyond the danger that these children grow up with unrealistic expectations when it comes time for them to go out, find work and support, there is a real question of whether these young people, which is used to having anything and everything want to be able to interact with those less fortunate than themselves. This is not a frivolous question. High school and college students of today are the citizens of tomorrow's vote, some of them will be tomorrow's leaders, accused of making decisions about people from all walks of life, from the most privileged among us to the desperately poor. How often are these privileged middle class children to develop empathy for those less fortunate, if not interact with them? Volunteering is a way for children's social and financial boundaries and connect with people different from them. Middle class children in the suburbs of Malibu can work together the children of poor rural and urban West Virginia Brooklyn, clearing paths to national forests and in the process of experiencing an environment beyond the cries product ads on television and billboards in magazines. Young people who sign with Habitat for Humanity to develop an understanding of the difficulties this causes for a low income family in the face in finding decent housing at affordable prices. Locally, children who volunteer as companions in nursing homes may have a sense of loneliness and isolation of many older people experience when cut off from family and friends. Adolescents who participate in voluntary activities to develop skills of value and a sense of responsibility, which is good when it comes time to enter the world of work. But perhaps more important job-related skills is the opportunity for these young people develop a sense of empathy and compassion for those who have been wounded by life. Perhaps for these future leaders and citizens, the development of compassion is the first and most important advantage of this experience of volunteering.