| Volunteerism among high school and college students | | | | among us to the desperately poor. How are these |
| is at an all-time high; many school systems actually | | | | often privileged middle class kids to develop empathy |
| build volunteer work into their curriculum. Young | | | | for those less fortunate than they are, if they never |
| people are building homes for Habitat for Humanity, | | | | interact with them? |
| working in National Parks for the Conservation Corps, | | | | Volunteerism is a way for kids to cut across social |
| and involving themselves in political, environmental, | | | | and financial boundaries and connect with people |
| and social causes. | | | | different from them. Upper middle class kids from the |
| It's certainly admirable for young people to take an | | | | suburbs of Malibu can work side by side with poor |
| active part in these causes; but it may be even more | | | | kids from rural West Virginia and urban Brooklyn, |
| important than routinely recognized. | | | | clearing trails in a national forest and in the process |
| Unfortunately, the United States is a materialistic | | | | experiencing an environment beyond the screaming |
| society. Teenagers - many of them the same | | | | product ads on TV and in magazines billboards. Young |
| teenagers lining up to volunteer their time - have | | | | people who sign on with Habitat for Humanity can |
| access to more discretionary funds than any previous | | | | develop an understanding of the difficulties involved |
| generation, and they're spending it. CDs, DVDs, iPods, | | | | for a low-income family when faced with finding |
| cell phones (and the accompanying bills), designer | | | | decent affordable housing. Locally, kids who volunteer |
| clothes, shoes, and bags - all of these material goods | | | | as companions in nursing homes can get a sense of |
| are in easy reach of many of our teenagers. Beyond | | | | the loneliness and isolation many elderly people |
| the danger that these kids will grow up with | | | | experience when cut off from family and friends. |
| unrealistic expectations when it comes time for them | | | | Teenagers who involve themselves in volunteer work |
| to move out, get a job, and support themselves, | | | | can develop valuable skills and a sense of |
| there's a real question as to whether these young | | | | responsibility that will stand them in good stead when |
| folks, used to having anything and everything they | | | | it comes time for them to enter the work world. But |
| want, will be able to relate to those less fortunate | | | | perhaps more important than job-related skills is the |
| than they are. | | | | opportunity for these young people to develop |
| This is not a frivolous issue. The high school and | | | | empathy and a sense of compassion for those who |
| college students of today are the voting citizens of | | | | have been wounded by life. Perhaps for these future |
| tomorrow; some of them will become the leaders of | | | | leaders and citizens, developing compassion is the |
| tomorrow, charged with making decisions about | | | | paramount and most essential benefit of the |
| people from all walks of life, from the most privileged | | | | volunteer experience. |