Don't Make Trouble, Make Change!
- foster care rights, my rights
- Resources for Teens and Young Adults
Don’t be a troublemaker, be a change-maker! Somebody once told me that NOBODY succeeds alone; everyone needs help in some way. You can be that someone that helps to make a positive change! You can become a change maker by:
- Being a team player
- Being committed
- Being self-motivated
- Volunteering in your community
For me, getting involved with my community through high school activities was very beneficial. It created a network of friends and allies that supported and encouraged me to be my best self. I gave and they gave back, and together we created a better community. The hardest part was taking the first step and finding where to get involved – which, for me, was at school. I participated in high school clubs like Mock Trial, Prom Committee, Spanish Club, Yearbook Club, and band (I played the flute). I also took advantage of other programs like the school lacrosse team and my local county youth court, run by and for youth. My high school even had a day called Senior Give Back Day every year where the senior class would “give back” to the school community by picking up trash, teaching elementary kids, planting new trees, and helping construct a new playground. All seniors looked forward to it.
The people skills and volunteer experiences I had in high school helped me become more outgoing which helped me decide to volunteer in college. It can be intimidating to get involved within your community, but if you make a little time and bring your positive attitude, it’ll be a nice reward.
Future change-makers: get involved in your region!
Region 1, 2, and 3 – Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse
- Volunteer Opportunities in Western New York
- United Way – Buffalo and Eerie County
- Syracuse Salvation Army
- United Way Central NY
- PEACE Inc.
Region 4 – Capital Region and surrounding areas
- CDPHP Student Volunteer Options in the Capital District
- UAlbany and Albany Community Service Opportunities
- Ronald McDonald Volunteer Opportunities
- Ideas for Local Civil Involvement
Region 5 and 6 – Westchester, Long Island, NYC
- Westchester County Volunteering
- Feeding Westchester County- Food Bank
- Furniture Sharehouse
- Long Island Volunteer Center
- Island Harvest – Long Island Food bank
- Nassau and Suffolk County Volunteering
- Bronx Volunteer Coalition
- Best Places to Volunteer in Brooklyn
- Hope for NYC
- Simply Hired – Manhattan Volunteering
- Staten Island Donation and Volunteer Opportunities
Anywhere in New York State
About the Author
Alexandria Ramos is a 22 year old senior at SUNY Plattsburgh, majoring in Political Science and interning for OCFS. Alex was in foster care for seven years and when she aged out felt confident about being on her own because her caseworker helped prepare her.