Letters to the editor for March 10

, Mar 10, 2010

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Clubs teach teens respect, planning

I witnessed the most astonishing sight this weekend. Picture this, a room full of 150 kids, mostly teens, holding a talent show. A 10-year-old girl got on stage and announced that she was going to sing, “Best of Both Worlds” of Hannah Montana fame. I almost cringed when she made her announcement. Older teens hate Hannah Montana. I braced myself for the heckling that was sure to begin, but to my surprise I didn’t need to. The teens clapped and sang along with enthusiasm. It was an act of kindness I never expected to see from teenagers.

This was a perfect scenario for the teens to be cruel. Why weren’t they? I credit their involvement in two organizations specifically geared toward building character. The organizations, Job’s Daughters (for girls ages 10-20) and DeMolay (for boys ages 12-21), are different from many other “kid oriented” groups because they are self governing. The kids plan and manage all of their activities. Mostly these activities involve parties, trips or other fun activities. The events appear to be fun, but are really learning opportunities that teach life skills. Additionally, the teens learn teamwork, make friends and give back to the community by raising money for charity.

I’m convinced all kids will benefit from joining these organizations. They foster self-esteem and provide social skills that help kids get through their teen years without resorting to drugs or destructive behaviors. I encourage your readers to contact me at ashleybethel10@yahoo.com to find out more about Job’s Daughters or DeMolay.

Ashley Lee

Damascus

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