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Engaged in Adventure

Acrylic on Canvas/ 42” by 54”/ $ 790 or best offer 

It is time for adventure—test the water, see the world, try new things, develop new friendships.  

Over the past two years, I have been engaged in research about homeless and runaway youth.  I studied the causes and interventions used to help these children who come from traumatic backgrounds.  I am nearing completion, writing a summary and conclusion section that includes suggestions.  One idea is to establish a government-sponsored public service program that all youth participate in one year after graduation.  Please read the following section and share your thoughts. Do you think this is a good and doable idea?

Public Service for All

Is it time to consider a public service option for al graduates?  We appear not to have enough jobs to gainfully employ exiting high school (even college) youth, so rather than doing menial activities or nothing at all, why not engage them in useful pursuits that develop job skills?  What might a one-year obligation be like if all high school graduates were required to enter a civil defense, military or Vista Corps-type program?

 Putting teens from diverse backgrounds together could stem political divisions that plague our country and serve as a way to integrate the population. Race and gender concerns fall away when people grow to depend on each other. Wealth and poverty issues are aided by understanding.  Public service could give youth an opportunity to interact across class lines and be an aid in overcoming bigotry. 

Service jobs offer on-the-job training that teaches recruits to engage in teamwork. This style of learning is especially useful for those who have a difficult time sitting in classrooms engaged in academic studies. Youth, in service positions, learn to follow directions and, as they progress, are awarded leadership opportunities. Service expands a participant’s worldview and is exciting when new challenges are presented and met. Activities could include disaster relief, fighting forest fires, agriculture, working with distressed children, assisting national park rangers, building habitat for humanity houses, and cooking in food shelters. In each case, youth will gain skills that are transferable to future jobs. 

For those planning to continue studying for an advanced degree, a year of service could help solidify what direction to pursue. Knowing that you are contributing to a better society is empowering, with life-long benefits that make for a more compassionate society.

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I look forward to hearing from you about this issue. Please respond below.