l'i1 ),, PF.OPI.F. Addison Yates :\lclanic Young Daniel Youm :\'aomi Zebra Jhocl Zuniga REACHING OUT TO YOUNG LI VE S By Brittany Simers In aclcliLion to ha\·ing a full-time college sclteclule, several Hardi11g stuclems used their cnerg,· and passion to ,eIYe others Lhrough a mini~Lry geared tO\rnrd adolescem, in the Searcy community. Sophomore Emily Cla) Lon s<:r\'l'd as a ,·olunteer leader and mentor for You11g Lif"c Searcy, a nonprofit Chri~tian youth outreach program, \\'ith chapter extending all across the -Cnited S1aLc,. Clayton decided LO become invo!Yecl after Harrison ,arpcnter, Young Life Searcy director, xpresscd interest in starting a local chapLcr of the naLional Young Life organizaLion in Searcy in :\'" ovember 2015. Clayton said she fir·L discon:red Carpenter's desire to stan Young Life Searcy after Clayton similarly described Young Life as "a lot of fun and a li1Lle [bit 08 Jesus." ln addition to a1tend.ing Young Life Searcy participants· extracurricular acti,·itics and cycnts, ,·olunteers also hosted an after-school program called ''Club." During --club'" hours, participants could play garncs, sing, dance and hear a de,·otional. Carpenter said these gatherings wc1T critical to dc,·eloping faith and relationships among the youth i1wolvcd. ··\\'c want to giw kids the opportunity to be kids," Carpenter said. "\\'hrn we get to that point - talking aboutJ esus -- they really " ·ant to start lisLcning." .\ ccording the Drew, the rf'iation. hips that Young Life mentors formed with the siu.ing next Lo hi, \\'ifc in church one clay, and soon Cla: wn became Lhc first Hardingsruclrnt to ,·olunteer. "I think it was a total Cod thing," Clayton ~aid. ·· t had done Young Life in high school, so LhaL peaked my interest." "Emily is a great leader and does a great job connecting and interacting with the kids in Young Life. kids \\'Cre --second to none."' ''The kids really seem to enjoy haYinR Lt. around, and I can really sec that they want to ha\"l' a good relationship wiLh u ·,'· Drew said. "I get texts e,Tryday asking if" I can pick kids up from ,chool and take them home or take them to an athletic practice, and it is a very r warcli ng feeling." Clayton spread Llic word about Lhc ne\\ chapLcr Lhrough her passion for the program and soon broughL in oLher Harding students as Yoluntccrs. She is always making kids smile and laugh) and I can tell that the high school girls really like her.)) Hardi11g swclc1m coincided 1vit.h Young Life Searcy's success, according LO Carpenter. "Emily is a great leader and docs a great job connecting - junior Brian Drew "Their energy leYCl is incredible," Carpenter said. ·'It gi,·es them the opportunity to build something they strongly believe in.'· and interacting with the kids in Young Lil<','. junior Brian Drnr aid. ·'She is always making kid~ ~mile and laugh, and l can tell that the high school girls really like her." Young Lile Searcy \'olunteers strived to make the organization more than a typical youth group. Thr organizaLion focused on youth in Searcy schools who dealt with clifTicult life situations. "I 10\·e being able ro connect 1rith high schoolers and be Lheir mentor figure,"' Dre\\-said. ·'I grew up in a church that didn't really have kids 1,·ith bad home li,·es, and so this is very eye-opening LO me. I really enjoy meeting new kids and introducing the idea of"Jesus into their li\'es.'' Drc1r :aid the people and relationships he made through Young Life has grcaL impacted his life. 'The experience has impacted my O\\"n faith life by showing me thaLnot C\'cryonc comes from great home li,·es and has the ·perfect' family,'' Drew said. ·'I haYe really enjoyed getting to know a lot of high school kids that need our help to encourage them LO graduate high school and go to college. I am very glad God has guided me clown this path to meeting Harrison and becoming a Young Life leader."
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