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