Breaking The Mold

So often we hear of teens and college student doing not so great things and giving the generation a negative image. Teens are stereotyped as lazy, having bad attitudes and being disrespectful. College students are viewed as party-goers, slackers and slightly unambitious. There are several young adults whom are breaking the stereotypical mold.

A youth group in Bentleyville Pennsylvania, Live God 24/7 have been going on mini mission trips for several years. The youth go to New York City about twice a year, once in April and once again in October. When they go, they go to the roughest parts of the city including the Bronx, Harlem, and “Hell’s Kitchen.” While there they volunteer with the NYC relief Buss, homeless shelters and much more. Roughly 21 or more people go, the youngest once being 10. Weeks before the trip, Live God 24/7 create kits to hand out at the shelters which include personal care items like shampoo and toothbrushes. June of 2005, th youth went to Mexico to work with the Mayan Indian and an orphanage. Two of the teens rode unicycles to attract children. The teens get a chance each time to see what it’s like to view other cultures and how easy it is to spread God’s word and love.

Each break whether it be Christmas, Thanksgiving or Spring, students from Robert Morris University’s chapter of Chi Alpha go on mission trips to other countries. In the past they have been to Africa, England, Australia, Costa Rico, and Nicaragua as well as New Orleans this past year. They help build houses, churches and minister to those who live in these various places. Each time the team comes back they have a new look on life and a new strength in their faith. They raise their own money and supplies for each trip, and if they have extra, they help each other out. When they return they speak at various churches int he area about their experiences in hopes that other people their age will get the desire to go at least one mission trip.

In the summer of 2005, several more student from Robert Morris University’s Communications department went to Germany, Italy and Turkey to produce documentaries about each country. One student, Amanda Kvortek said it was an experience she will never forget and hopes to go again. Once they returned, they spent the rest of their summer editing and working hard to produce a quality documentary. It not only gave each student something to show potential employers, but showed them the reality of each country. It dispelled some misconceptions. Several years ago, about 2003, a young woman, Sara Mesler, left her family and friends to teach children in China English. As did another woman Jill Odrey, but she went to Thailand.

Students like these are dispelling the myth about teens and college students. This is a small look into the wonderful things teens and college aged students are doing, we just looked at a few small towns, imagine what some people are doing in larger cities. Next time you see something negative about this generation, think of the stories that go unreported. There are those who are breaking the mold.