By Jennifer Wehrli

Being a counselor on the Crisis Line, I hear all types of stories. Many of the stories coming from younger teenagers involve family situations and troubles of communication. I want to share how common this is and that so many youth share this concern. It’s endearing to know that teenagers WANT to have a close relationship with their parents and WANT to communicate – even when it’s hard to see sometimes.

Then there are the calls that are just so heartbreaking. Those that don’t have a home to go to or are dependent on someone that abuses them and they have no where else to turn. Explaining that their situation isn’t permanent and they CAN change it, gives them maybe just a little hope for the moment and possibly lasting hope with a resource provided.

There are so many needs that surround each of our communities and the youth in them. How can you help be that moment of hope for someone?

Jen

By Talia Ronzana

Life is a story, write it. Life is a lesson, learn it. Life is a challenge, take it. Life is a mountain, climb it. But most of all,  relax and forgive yourself. Life is too short to be unhappy. Always love the people who treat you right; they are in your life for a reason. Life is about happiness. Never let someone hold you back from achieving your dream. You have a voice, speak up. Live the life you were given with no regrets and learn from your mistakes– they make you who you are!

-Talia

By Talia Ronzana

It was Martin Luther King Jr. who once said, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

From reading and reflecting upon this quote all I can say is WOW! This quote inspires me. I may only be seventeen years old, but I want to have, ” a heart full of grace. And a soul generated by love.” I want to reach out to youth not only in Riverside County where I live, but all around the state of California. I want to advocate for at risk youth. By at-risk, I mean kids who are victims of the streets; kids who are forced to be responsible for themselves when really there should be someone responsible for taking care of them. I want to let them know that there are people out in this world who do care for them and who do love them, even when the world around them shuts them out completely. I want to be known as the girl who brings a smile to their faces, the girl that believes in them even when they do not believe in themselves. I want to be the one person who sees the positive things about them, rather than the negative.

But, what does it mean to serve? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines the word ’serve’ as, “to do services for; aid; help.”

Next, one might ask, “‘But what does it mean to aid, to help?!?”

I believe that to aid and to help means providing them with the necessary resources that will connect them with the programs that they need in order to survive.

I wish that there were more shelters where I live devoted to helping get youth off of the streets.

My hope is that one day not only in Riverside County, but also in the state of California, that there would be less and less youth on the streets. My dream is that youth would be able to confide in and find the necessary resources that they need to become healthy, confident, and successful.

Who’s with me?!?

–Talia

By Jennifer Wehrli

So the Conference was GREAT!  Of course being a new volunteer here at the Crisis Line, it was my first time attending.  I’ll have to say for sure, I’ll be a regular attendee each year. 

It was nice to see the faces of the Board of Directors for CCY, other volunteers, and the YOUTH that attended.  So many great faces to see and stories I heard.  Oh, and the art work displayed was so beautiful.  (It’s great to see such a creative way to express troubled times.)

Thanks for letting me be apart of the Conference and of the Crisis Line.  Much more to come…

Jennifer

By Talia Ronzana

So basically conference this year was AMAZING!

I loved the opportunity that I had to meet people from all around the state of California who came to the conference to let their voices be heard! It was an awesome experience!

The key-note speakers were inspiring, the Sac Kings Game was a lot of fun, and the Youth Forum was amazing!

I learned many things which I plan on taking back to my community!

The Art Gallery this year was inspiring! What touched my heart was the chance that everyone had to write something on their hands that they could give to a legislator. Reading what other people wrote on their hands pushed me even more further to let my voice be heard for them when I was speaking with my local legislators.

All I can say is WOW! What an awesome experience! I will remember Taking Action 2010 for many years to come!