There's no downside to teen volunteering. No matter what and where it is, giving free and freely to others is one of the best foundations for a youngster's evolving maturity and ammunition for meeting all other challenges in later life. While the media follows and puffs up celebrity teens who do nothing but live selfishly for themselves, there are millions of other teens who go out into the community and make a positive difference in the lives of others. It is the unsung volunteer heroes among the teens who get the least flashy publicity, but who deserve all of the thanks from their fellow citizens.

The initial good volunteer teens do is that they offer their young minds and physical presence to help others who are not as fortunate as they are. They work free in hospitals, nursing homes, women's shelters, children's centers and other facilities where their smiling faces, enthusiasm and youth are welcome, and in many cases, sorely needed. They give up their summer vacations to volunteer to help build and repair houses in poverty neighborhoods, and they enlist to clear flood and forest fire ravaged areas. How can there be anything negative about teens who volunteer in the community and better the lives of others, as well as their own?

Another positive aspect of teen volunteering could be especially important if they participate during this election year. Even while many of them can't vote yet, the positive efforts of getting involved in the workings of democracy is a valuable experience. In trying to convince voters to elect those politicians they believe are best qualified, volunteer teens profit in many educational directions. When our son was 14 and already a computer whiz, he was asked by the local Democratic Party in a state governor's election to keep a running tally throughout election day to report voting trends in all the counties of the state.

Our son wowed the politicians as he provided moment-by-moment figures for them to check as they followed the results right up until the polls closed, and for hours thereafter as final figures trickled in. He volunteered 18 straight hours that day on his Macintosh computer, and even now, considers working that election one of the most satisfying experiences on his school years. Our daughter, then age eight, volunteered for four hours every Sunday at a nursing home. Because she wanted to become an on-air newscaster at the time, we set up a microphone and speaker for her in the home's dining room, and she read news, played vintage music tapes and made comments to the delight of the residents. Today she's a writer-producer on a major TV talk show, and does stand-up comedy in Las Vegas and other venues.

Another valuable aspect of teen volunteering is that it makes them more aware of their responsibilities to their community. It provides emotional growth and maturity, as well as personal pride in doing something valuable and positive. Teens, at least as much anyone else in our society, need to feel they are worthwhile human beings. Today, more than ever before, they are bombarded by many negative influences from entertainment, peer group pressure and a confusing world mired in political and religious turmoil. Improved communications, including little cell phones and other picture, voice and music instruments they carry with them always, only make their choices all the more difficult.

Volunteer teens have dedicated at least a part of those valuable years to helping and networking positively with others. With each hour of community work, they gather valuable experiences, skills and references they can use, not only when applying for college, but when applying them to a more fulfilling adult life.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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