| Working with troubled youth as a child psychologist, | | | | teacher and the youths the learners, but this is very |
| youth sponsor, social worker, or friend can be an | | | | rarely the case. As with all good relationships, a |
| exhausting, thankless job. Why would anyone choose | | | | relationship with a at-risk youth is a relationship of |
| to work at such a job? After all, the pay is usually | | | | give and take. Even in the worst of times, working |
| nothing or next to nothing, the hours are often long | | | | with troubled youths can help you learn to open up, |
| and unpredictable, and sometimes you don't even get | | | | be more patient, and let go of your petty little anger. |
| to see the end result of all your labor. Well, there are | | | | Besides this, working with troubled youth can |
| actually several good and worthy reasons people | | | | improve your communication skills, your listening skills, |
| choose to work with troubled youth, and here are | | | | and your sense of understanding and empathy. |
| the top five: | | | | 4. It's Never Boring: Sitting at a desk all day |
| 1. There's a Huge Need: As the divorce rate | | | | answering phone calls and pushing papers can get |
| skyrockets, drugs and alcohol are made ever more | | | | stale in about five minutes. Working with troubled |
| available, and television and songs portray more and | | | | youth, on the other hand, never grows dull. Every |
| more anger and violence, it's no wonder that more | | | | day, you have to dig deep to find the strength you |
| teenagers and young adults are feeling lost and alone | | | | need to build solid relationships with troubled youth. |
| and are acting out against the people and systems | | | | Because no two kids are the same and one kid can |
| they feel have put them in their terrible situation. One | | | | become a different person between Monday and |
| excellent reason to work with troubled teens, then, is | | | | Friday, you never know what to expect, either. If |
| that the need is great and that it is getting greater | | | | you're sick of doing the same exact thing day in and |
| each and every day. | | | | day out, working with troubled youth as a full-time |
| 2. It's Rewarding: Working with troubled kids is tough. | | | | job or a part-time passion might be a great solution |
| It takes everything you have and then a little bit | | | | for you. |
| more. It's not your typical nine-to-five job because | | | | 5. It's Worthwhile: Unlike some jobs that make you |
| when you really care about the kids you're working | | | | feel like you're just a corporate cog, working with |
| with, you are either constantly thinking about them | | | | troubled youths allows you to really make an impact |
| or almost always available to them. This is tiring, but | | | | on the world, one kid at a time. With each life you |
| it is also incredibly rewarding to know that you've | | | | change, you're making the world a slightly better |
| made a difference in someone's life. | | | | place, making the job all the more rewarding and |
| 3. It's a Learning Experience: One would think that | | | | interesting. |
| working with troubled youth would make you the | | | | |