Service to other teens - Satisfaction can come from being a retreat leader in school or parish. Sharing both struggles and successes with other teens, and acting in a leadership role, is a powerful experience for many teens. The Kairos retreat program usually conducted in senior year offers teens an opportunity to share with their peers how they live out their faith, no matter how ordinary they may think their life is. Teens can find other opportunities, whether structured or informal, to act as peer counselors to other teens. Supporting a classmate who has lost a parent or who struggles with substance abuse or who has difficulty making friends can be an uplifting experience.
Examples abound of teens working to help one another.
One California high school conducts the Clothesline Project every spring. Sponsored by the National Organization for Women, the project displays T-shirts depicting women's stories of sexual violence. The purpose is to educate and increase awareness on the high school level. Often teens don't see just how wonderful they are. As a teacher, you can influence parents and other teachers to support teens more actively.