I ask the adult readers of U.S. News not to stereotype teenagers. Give us the benefit of your doubt. Contact people and allow teenagers to shadow you at work. Help me overturn the stereotypes society has created for teens. More than 3 million young volunteers developed and led thousands of service projects to highlight their year-round contributions to their communities.
Youth service is one of the most effective forms of helping young people grow up.
Research shows that youths who volunteer are 50 percent less likely than other young people to engage in destructive social behavior such as substance abuse or teenage sexual activity. Young volunteers are also more likely to graduate, to have higher self-esteem, and to volunteer and to vote as adults. At Youth Service America, we are working with a historic coalition of more than 200 organizations to make youth service the experience and expectation of all young Americans. The No. 1 way to increase youths' involvement in service is to simply ask them. Thank you again for making the country aware of the amazing generation of young people growing up today in America.