caleb
Admin
 Admin
| Posts: 17 |   | Karma: 2
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Re:what makes me think my kids are going to be good citizens to the community when they go on their - 2006/11/20 20:06
Hi there,
I can speak from the perspective of a "recent ex" young person (I'm 23 now). I think the most important thing for me growing up was having a structure of discipline - self-discipline. This helped me to work hard at things I enjoyed and even things I did not enjoy. Constructive activities begin with learning that not all activities will be "fun".
Secondly, I was involved in an organization called Civil Air Patrol. This is the official Air Force auxilliary program for youth. It's not militarized (i.e. they don't send us off to war), but we did get to learn about military standards, drill and ceremonies, and had the chance to choose to participate in encampments, flying activities, search and rescue, and more. What I learned most from this program was self-discipline.
Other constructive activities I experienced as a young person was entrepreneurship, volunteering at my church (MBC), and, believe it or not, doing yard work for neighbors.
Specific to your question about training for labor, getting mentored by someone in the field your son is interested in would be invaluable. The Yakima Chamber of Commerce has a job shadow program for students; many civic organizations will connect young people with professionals; and a little boldness in directly contacting a professional in a field of interest for an information interview can go a long way.
Hope that helps!
-Caleb
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