Teens serving now: Alaskan youth receive top honors, learn lessons in leadership.

• Author: Heyano, Lauren
• Position: LEADERSHIP

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

While many believe youth are the future of America, teens are doing pretty well in the present, serving communities daily. Prudential Jack White/Vista Real Estate has recognized this, starting the Spirit of Community Initiative. The program has provided recognition and training for youth volunteers since 1995, and this year is no different. Another Spirit of Community Award and another Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute (PYLi) have passed, both with incredible results.

"Volunteer experience can be done no matter where you are," said Esther Smith, a senior at Chugiak High School. It can take you to Africa and to Asia and South America, but it doesn't have to. The beauty is that you'll meet the same people with the same needs next door or in the city or everywhere, and there will always be people who need somebody else to care for them and to spend time with them."

As this year's Spirit of Community Award winner, and Alaska's most impressive student volunteer, Smith knows a thing or two about service. When most students headed to the beach, Smith traveled to Malaysia, Brazil, Panama, Ethiopia and Zambia. She spent the last four summers teaching English, distributing necessities and helping with reforestation and building projects. Moreover, Smith learned lessons in compassion. "We worked with around 700 to 800 AIDS orphans during the summer in six different rescue unit," she said. 'They just want to hold your hand, and that's so powerful."

Smith's work is unbelievable, but she is still like any other teenager, "just trying to survive the last few months of high school." She loves reading and Facebook and participates in national-level debate competitions. Right now, she is looking forward to her Washington, D.C., trip this month, a perk of winning the award. There, Smith will meet other American teens involved in community service. "I'm a complete political junkie," she said. "So being able to go to D.C. with other top...