Teens Giving Back: Why Giving is the Best Gift

I know receiving gifts is great. Who doesn’t love receiving something nice? However, in the past few years, I have found that giving and doing things for others boosts my self-esteem and gives me a glow that's even better than the one I get from my Drunk Elephant drops. I know that sounds impossible, but let me explain.

When a pathologic fracture left me out of school for months, and unable to play sports, I felt distant from my friends and lonely. My mom and aunt encouraged me to give back to others. At first, I thought they were crazy. But my mom and aunt grew up with very little and they always say giving what they could to others made them feel better when times were hard. They explained that there is always someone struggling more who makes you feel grateful for the life you have. I decided to give their suggestion a try. At first, I helped my mom deliver food to people in need. It got me out of the house, and I felt better. When I returned to school, I challenged myself to find someone who looked lonely at lunch and introduce myself. I was nervous and afraid of being rejected, but I did it anyway. She smiled, and we talked. I left the table feeling better about myself than I did before. Next, I joined a local soup kitchen, and I woke up early on the weekend to pack bags of food for people who couldn’t afford to buy food themselves. My heart broke as I helped people carry their bags outside to the frozen shopping carts many used to push their food back home. They couldn’t afford a car. I quickly saw I had a lot to be grateful for. I also noticed I felt less lonely and less worried about all the medical issues I was facing. From there, I joined more service-based clubs at school and volunteered more at my church. Next, I began fundraising for a charity that helps sick children. I even started cleaning the local beach and began saying yes whenever I had the opportunity to serve others.

My new favorite way to give back is to deliver dinner and a nut-free baked treat to a local family who is going through a hard time. I drop it off with an anonymous note and hope it brightens their day. I think it makes people feel better just to know someone cares. How you give back doesn’t really matter. I found it helpful to start by doing a small and free act of kindness at school. Sometimes, if someone’s mom or dad is very sick, I make sure to smile more and try to cheer them up. From there my giving back ideas grew. For me, getting started was the hardest part. But I'm glad I did it. I love fun challenges; they motivate me. So, I challenge you to find your own way to give back to someone in need. Let me know if you agree that the free glow you get is way better than the kind we buy from a store.