CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- Last February, I walked into the TeenLife Boston Community Service Fair as a high school student with a community service requirement. It’s not that I didn’t like the idea of helping others; in fact, I thought quite highly of volunteering. But, like everything else that my school required me to do, I saw it as a chore. I figured that I would do something such as picking up trash at a public park until my hours were complete and then continue with my life as before. I couldn’t have been more wrong. As I am more or less an average teenager, these misconceptions were somewhat understandable. I like to play soccer and tennis and go jogging as well as watch TV, listen to music, and play video games; though I supported the idea, community service was not on my agenda. I had participated in small scale events before, but the majority of my exposure to community service came from watching The Simpsons. In the TV show, Lisa somehow enjoyed visiting the depressing Springfield Retirement Castle where the elders sat at the "staring window,” and in the newspapers, convicts were sentenced to 200 hours of picking up trash around the city. Over the years, I had developed an understanding that community service was drab and boring. As I walked in, the first aspect of the Community Service Fair that struck me was the sheer number of non-profit organizations exhibiting – literally dozens. As somebody who had envisioned community service to be inherently mundane, I found the diversity of the opportunities to be astonishing. The entire first floor of the Chestnut Hill Mall was filled with booths featuring different organizations that ran the gamut from City Year and Best Buddies to Bikes Not Bombs and the New England Aquarium. Perhaps the greatest thing about the fair was that it catered to teen volunteers’ interests; the variety of the organizations there practically guaranteed that one would grab your attention.
As a dedicated tennis player, my eye was soon drawn to Tenacity, a non-profit organization that teaches tennis and literacy to children in the Greater Boston area who otherwise might not receive the opportunity to play tennis. The table was covered with sheets explaining the program’s purpose and detailing how to become involved, which I eagerly took and read. I had a great conversation with the Tenacity representative, and felt that this was an organization where I could get involved. In less than a week, I made contact with Tenacity’s Summer Program Manager, and within a month I visited the organization’s offices for an interview. The interview went well, and I secured a summer volunteering job with the program at a local site. Looking back at the ease with which I was able to connect with Tenacity and schedule a convenient time to volunteer, I owe much to the TeenLife Community Service Fair. The fair brought together non-profit organizations that were actively looking to hire teen volunteers; without it, I would never have found Tenacity nor any of the other fantastic organizations represented there. It made them accessible in such a way that finding a time and place to volunteer was an exciting experience, not a lamentable hassle. Tenacity turned out to be everything I hoped it would be – and more. As a tennis and reading instructor, I was able to share a game I love with kids, while at the same time, help them develop their reading skills. I enjoyed every moment I spent with the kids and forged relationships with my co-workers (mostly other teenagers) as well. Every day, I looked forward to spending six hours with my group – on sunny days, on cloudy days, on hot days, on unseasonably cool days. I do not think that many people can genuinely say that. My time volunteering for Tenacity also helped me overcome a common misconception. Especially in this day and age, it is easy for one to assume that a single person’s efforts cannot make a difference. However, each day as I heard kids excitedly calling my name when I arrived at the tennis courts, it became more and more clear to me that I was playing a part in their lives, that the hours I spent with them each day were making a difference. The most rewarding moment for me was when the kids were asked to fill out a survey and a girl answered "Who is your favorite instructor?” by writing down my name. Working at Tenacity was a life-changing experience. I could continue to list reasons why I loved it so much, but I feel as if this is the best testament to the program and my time working for it: Next summer, as a teenager who has already fulfilled his community service requirement, I will again be volunteering for Tenacity. Want to attend this year’s community service fair which will feature 40 area non-profits that offer community service opportunities to teens? Click here. Pre-registration is free. All pre-registered students, parents and educators will receive important pre- and post-event information, a free Guide to Community Service
listing 150 teen-friendly non-profits, a gift bag containing samples
and special offers, and free raffle tickets for prizes from
participating retailers. Andrew Miller-Smith is a junior at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge. He is interested in the French language, English and French literature, philosophy, and video game development. He is the Features Editor of his award-winning school newspaper, The Vanguard.
Pictured above in order listed in article: Afternoon participant demonstrating the perfect forehand; Morning participant ready to become the new King in King of the Court. Photos Courtesy of Tenacity
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CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- Last February, I walked into the TeenLife Boston Community Service Fair as a high school student with a community service requirement. It’s not that I didn’t like the idea of helping others; in fact, I thought quite highly of volunteering. But, like everything else that my school required me to do, I saw it as a chore. I figured that I would do something such as picking up trash at a public park until my hours were complete and then continue with my life as before. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
