This past summer, 30 students and I from all over the United States of America were given the opportunity to go back to our roots in search of a place to make a difference.

As we live in a world blinded by luxury, we are born thinking everyone has the same education and opportunities we have. Education is something we don’t even see as a gift because it something in which we are accustomed. However, all around the world there are millions of orphans which see education as such a big gift to their lives.

This summer I flew with another volunteer, Shivani Patel, to another country around the world to make a difference to children in need, with a program called Uplift Humanity. Uplift Humanity is a program where every summer, passionate teenagers volunteer to go to India to teach children in orphanages and juvenile homes.  Volunteers travel to teach underprivileged children, but in the process end up transforming their own lives.

This eye opening experience showed me what impact could be made on such a small child. Uplift Humanity taught me the real needs in my life. Seeing these kids dressed in the same clothes everyday showed me how much I really have in my life. Having a closet full of clothes and still complaining on not having nothing to wear, is one of the many things that then transformed me.

Sharing a room with 12 others, having one small shelf to keep all your belongings, washing your own clothes by hand, sweeping your own floor, waking up at five with no alarm, sleeping in rooms with 12 others without air conditioning are all first world problems to us  since we are living in the 21st century. Volunteers then asked the kids on how they feel about the orphanage. They told us that is the best gift God has given to them and they couldn’t have asked for anything better.

If I was going to execute my thoughts and teaching was something that not only did I have, but something that 30 other students had. After seeing the kids for the first time, the kids were very passionate in learning everything we taught them. Everyday us volunteers took 2-3 hours to prep for the next day, from making activities to practicing words we weren’t familiar with.  Us volunteers speaking in our native language, trying to help the kids learn a little more of English was something they looked forward to everyday. Helping them build a support system, and teaching them the rights and wrongs is something they smiled to learn. From doing group activities, to arts and crafts is something that showed the happiness they had in them.

Technology is something we see as something small, since we live in America. The simple use of the camera on a phone showed so much excitement in every single one of them. An orphan, Megha Patel, a sibling of a twin and a younger brother who were also orphans was asked, “Have you been able to use a cell phone before? How do like the use of it?” Her response being, “No ever since my siblings and I were abandoned by my parents we have never used a cellphone nor have we seen such advanced ones like this. I love using this cellphone so much, that when I grow older I hope I achieve my dream so I can get something like this.”

Every single kid there was in need of someone to trust, and Uplift Humanity had us volunteers be there for them. Throughout the time we were there, we also saw how ambitious each and every one of the kids is. Each of them had a goal set in mind of what they wanted to do in the future. One of the orphans, Jhanvi, wanted to follow the footsteps of her mom and become a nurse. Another orphan, Rahul, has a dream of coming to America one day and getting a PHD in English so he can then teach underprivileged children.

Seeing these students having such big dreams and following footsteps of ones who have abandoned them show us of how much we dream in our lives. What we taught these kids is something they will never forget, but the things that these kids have taught me is something that has turned my life upside down. Now seeing what the real needs in my life is one of the many things that will never be forgotten.

Ending this journey was the hardest it’s ever been to say a goodbye, tears dropping from every volunteer’s face had the orphans not wanting to let go of us. Such close bonds that wanted us to to just stay there forever. The orphans asking us, If we will see them again next year, was something we had to say no too but it wasn’t possible at the time. Saying bye to the kids was the toughest goodbye I had ever said. To this day, I tell anyone and everyone to go and take this experience to not only make a child’s life change but also yours. Uplift Humanity has given me the best life changing experience I will ever receive.

Every Sunday Saint John Vianney has weekly youth group meetings, in Trailer D behind SJV Church. These meetings consists of teens ranging from 8th graders to Seniors in high school.

The basis of youth group is to give teens a place to talk about their religion without feeling judged or ridiculed for it. Each youth group is different, in it’s own way to structure itself and the members. The SJV youth group is very big on volunteering and helping around the community.

Firstly, one event that the SJV youth group provides service to is at the local SJV fair. They run the soda tent every year yet all the proceeds still go to the SJV school. It is a good way for the kids to get involved, while at the same time talking to people in the local community. Another major key point in youth group is to develop those people skills and those sociable skills to set teens up for the future. They are taught through this program that just simply talking to someone or asking how their day is going can help you get to know someone on a level you couldn’t imagine.

Some community service events that the youth is involved in includes a program called ‘Tooling Around The Township‘. In this the kids go to a house owned by a member of the community and help to renovate it/fix it up. The members learn about the gift of volunteering along with helping out it’s own people from the community.

Another event that the teens get a chance to participate in is a one week trip during the summer, ‘Appalachia’. In this trip the members of the youth ministry go to West Virginia to serve the poor and talk to the families of the projects they are working on. The Appalachia project has been an ongoing success for the past 20 years. The teens get to experience first hand the true poverty and the great challenges that America’s poor are facing. Many of the teens talk greatly about this experience. Most members called it ‘life changing’ and ‘eye-opening’.

Although, these community service projects aren’t the only thing that open some teens minds and hearts. The youth ministry itself has played a major role in many of the young adults lives. Just the weekly meetings every Sunday gives the members a chance to open up and speak freely of their faith. One of those teens is Amy Sheridan. The junior at Colonia High School gave her insight on just how big of an impact youth group played in her life.

When asked why she joined youth group, Amy explained, ‘I wanted to be around more positivity and people who share the same beliefs as me. Also just to have something positive to look forward to at the end of each week”. Sheridan discussed the positive impact youth group had on her and others in the ministry. Sheridan also mentioned, “It’s become a safe space for me to talk without being judged and it’s helped me become more religious alongside people who just make my connection with God stronger”.

Although religion plays a major role in youth group, another main goal is to spread good in the world. One mission is to have every kid that walks into youth group leave with a more positive perspective on the world. The youth ministry helps to provide a brighter outlook, and to always give as hand to those around you. The head of the youth ministry for over 10 years, John Cook, explained the true purpose of youth group, along with the reason behind his involvement.

“Why did I want to be a youth minister? To fulfill my confirmation requirement, I had to attend a weekend long confirmation retreat. I went in angry and closed minded. I was appalled that I had to give up an entire weekend. To my utter and complete surprise, I met God through the dynamics of that weekend. Long story short, that experience was life changing for me. It gave me a new and clear perspective on life, and I want to share that with others”

The youth minister explained that as a young teen he was not involved in his faith and had no desire to be. Yet as he got involved in his local youth group, his entire perspective changed. Therefore, he wanted this same change for kids all across our community. The inspiring story is relatable for teens in the aspect that you don’t need to have a strong faith in order to join youth group, or even have a strong desire. Cook also gave his input on whether or not he has seen a change – physically, mentally and/or emotionally – in any teens who have passed through the youth group as the years have gone by.

“Absolutely. I would call them physco-spirtual. I think what we do in our attempt to provide the life changing experiences, to bring somebody closer to faith, I think when that experience really hits, there’s a change that happens not only on an emotional level but I think it happens in the brain. Things start to make sense. Why we do what we do? Why we serve the poor? Why we help each other? Why I should put Christ first in my life? And let all the other pieces fall into place, as a result of that. Our goal, I guess, is to create a spiritual dynamic that people can build their entire lives around”.

In conclusion, the SJV youth group helps set young teens up for the future. Whether it be college, career, or even just talking to someone on the street. The youth ministry provides teen with a safe place to talk. Either about their religion or just the everyday struggles of being a teenager. Everything said in the youth group is confidential making the environment both comfortable and trustworthy.

Overall the youth group has been a major success over the past years. It will only continue to grow and blossom. Teens from different schools, towns, ages, and backgrounds come together to share one common thing.