| Youth Talk |
Ms Kristin Chism has been appointed by the Office of the Archbishop Metropolitan as Youth
Director for the ACW. She is a Junior at McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois. We welcome
her. She will be writing this column bi-weekly.
“I can’t wait until I’m 13!” “I can’t wait until I’m 16!” “I can’t wait until I’m 18!” “I can’t wait until I’
m 21!” Suddenly, the longing to be young once more is burned into the minds of many to one
day go back to that carefree youthful time. Normally, when a person gets older they inherit
more responsibilities and with their new responsibilities come the want for more freedoms. It
is almost as if it is a reward system. The more responsibilities that a person takes on and
fulfills the more freedom that person will earn or be rewarded. Even though that seems like
the ideal situation, in reality responsibilities are meant to be performed automatically without
the promise of receiving anything in return.
Unfortunately, many young people are at a disadvantage because they are not taught that a
lot of good work goes unnoticed. Not saying that young people should not do the right thing
because there is no money in it, but many times doing the right thing will not be recognized.
Therefore, fulfilling responsibilities are replaced with activities that have for sure positive
reactions. These actions could take the form of drugs, sex, or alcohol because they each
have a false positive reaction or consequence. That is why it is very important to let young
people know that being and doing positive things are not just to get something good given
to you, but it is just the thing to do.
There is no award ceremony, no checks, no trophies, there is only the feeling of knowing that
no matter what the outcome turns out to be, you did what you thought was right with no
ulterior motives. If the young or old live out their days in such a way, their hearts will be light
and pure.
Kristin Chism
Youth Director, ACW
Director for the ACW. She is a Junior at McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois. We welcome
her. She will be writing this column bi-weekly.
“I can’t wait until I’m 13!” “I can’t wait until I’m 16!” “I can’t wait until I’m 18!” “I can’t wait until I’
m 21!” Suddenly, the longing to be young once more is burned into the minds of many to one
day go back to that carefree youthful time. Normally, when a person gets older they inherit
more responsibilities and with their new responsibilities come the want for more freedoms. It
is almost as if it is a reward system. The more responsibilities that a person takes on and
fulfills the more freedom that person will earn or be rewarded. Even though that seems like
the ideal situation, in reality responsibilities are meant to be performed automatically without
the promise of receiving anything in return.
Unfortunately, many young people are at a disadvantage because they are not taught that a
lot of good work goes unnoticed. Not saying that young people should not do the right thing
because there is no money in it, but many times doing the right thing will not be recognized.
Therefore, fulfilling responsibilities are replaced with activities that have for sure positive
reactions. These actions could take the form of drugs, sex, or alcohol because they each
have a false positive reaction or consequence. That is why it is very important to let young
people know that being and doing positive things are not just to get something good given
to you, but it is just the thing to do.
There is no award ceremony, no checks, no trophies, there is only the feeling of knowing that
no matter what the outcome turns out to be, you did what you thought was right with no
ulterior motives. If the young or old live out their days in such a way, their hearts will be light
and pure.
Kristin Chism
Youth Director, ACW
