I have been volunteering for the YMCA for the past 3 years now. Most of my time has been spent with children. I go up to summer camps in the mountains 3 or 4 times a summer and then the rest of my time is spent in town at the local YMCA at their day camps. I'm only 14 years old, so I can't get a job, but I enjoy volunteering my time rather than getting paid. My pay check comes with all of the smiles I see on the children's faces. I hope that other teens my age will get involved and make a difference.

You don't have to be an adult to change the world.

You don't have to be rich.

Or famous.

You don't have to be thin.

Or brilliant.

Or beautiful (we're all beautiful).

You don't have to chain yourself to a tree for a week.

You don't have to give away all your stuff and turn into Mother Teresa or

anything like that.

You can make a difference with a single act of kindness.

You can make a difference by using your voice to speak up and speak out.