by Torski Dobson-Arnold

As I traveled close to 2000 miles cross country last month, I reflected on my parenting abilities and career aspirations for my eldest son. It is my sincerest desire for him to actively pursue every experience and opportunity that wait for him professionally. See, unlike many of his fellow graduating high school friends, Ronald opted not to attend college right after graduation. Instead, he applied for and was chosen amongst thousands of applicants as a corp member in City Year, a national service organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. www.cityyear.org

Why would my son or any other student choose this path in their post-graduation plans? Well, as a tween and long before he was legally eligible to work, my son and daughter spent many summers volunteering here at home in Virginia with local service and non-profit organizations during their summer vacation. Whether it was tutoring kids or coordinating food drives, they understood that if they didn’t work, they were to do something productive with their time. By getting involved, they created for themselves valuable experiences that have served them both in the part-time job search process, but more importantly, in the development of having a “give back” mentality early on.

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Date of publication: November 25, 2009
Read more in this section: the Next Level