Teen Volunteers Find They Get More Than Give

In his State of the Union speech, President Bush challenged Americans to contribute at least 4,000 hours to volunteer efforts over the course of their lifetimes. SAMANTHA and BARBARA MACLAREN spoke with student volunteers about the president’s message and why they chose to donate their time.

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COURTNEY ANN MILLER

14, Glendale Immaculate Heart High School

I volunteer as a candy striper at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

I work in different departments, sometimes I answer phones and do paperwork. I also get patients food or blankets. I do errands--escorting patients to their rooms and delivering flowers.

I have been volunteering since the beginning of last summer. I do it because it makes me feel like I’m making a difference in people’s lives. I want to work in the medical field, and this is allowing me to get a feel for things.

I think that President Bush is right in calling upon people to volunteer. If people gave something back to their communities, it would eliminate many of society’s problems.

I encourage others, such as my friends, to volunteer. The main reason that people don’t volunteer is they think they don’t have the time or that they won’t make a difference.

Some organizations would get more volunteers if they went to schools and let it be known that they need them.

They might even target teens who are in trouble; maybe it could change their life by trying to help others.

People can learn many things from volunteering. They can learn that even the smallest things they do in life--like smiling at someone or just bothering to make sure that they’re doing all right or that the person has what they’re looking for--could make a person’s day much better.

Just that one thing can be worth a whole lot to that other person.

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MELISSA APARICIO

16, Palmdale High School

I have been a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, Mobility is Freedom , Antelope Valley Hospital, Palmdale Youth Soccer League, Palmdale Youth Cheerleaders, and the Antelope Valley Senior Expo.

The first place I volunteered for was the American Cancer Society. It was an opportunity given through the medical magnet program at Palmdale High School. I had always wanted to volunteer but I didn’t know how to get involved; this was a perfect opportunity.

Volunteering, for me, has been very fulfilling. It makes me feel like I actually have an impact on somebody’s life. It allows me to do something that I can really feel good about.

You’re only one person, but through volunteering I have learned I can make a difference. I don’t think people know what a satisfying experience volunteering is.

Everyone has a busy life. But you don’t have to put in a 40-hour week as a volunteer to make a difference.

You can volunteer in so many different ways.

If you have a hobby or an interest you can volunteer to share that.

If you like working with animals, you can volunteer at an animal shelter or kennel.

To some extent, giving time is better than giving money. If you have the money and you want to donate it, that’s great, it will help out a lot. But for those who do not have money to spare, volunteering is an excellent way to help the community.

It has made me a lot more grateful for what I have. I have been able to meet a lot of great people, people whom I really admire. It has given me real world experience. It has made me appreciate a lot more things, and it just changed me as a person.

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MEGAN LEAH HANKS

17, Canyon High School, Santa Clarita

I started volunteering at Carousel Ranch in Santa Clarita about four months ago. I was taking a class and part of the course was to volunteer somewhere. I picked Carousel Ranch because I want to be a veterinarian and I really like horses.

Carousel Ranch works with disabled children, getting them on specially trained horses. I like the hands-on experience this gives me.

When you first go, you’re really not looking forward to it because you know it’s volunteering and you don’t get paid for it. It really turns out for your benefit because you learn a lot.

I have gotten some friends to go out there and volunteer with me, and they really liked it because they felt better about themselves.

Most people don’t volunteer because they are interested in earning money. But what you earn as a volunteer can be greater than the money you would have made working at a paid job.