What's Going On?

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?


“How’s your brother?”

“He’s dead.”

Silence filled the line.“Wow...that’s awful. It’s no wonder you’re afraid,” I replied. There wasn’t much I could do. This teen was struggling with drug abuse and feared leaving a gang whose members murdered his brother. But candidly speaking, I wasn’t there to solve his problem—all I could do was listen.

In the summer of 2016, I began volunteering at Teen Line, a crisis hotline in which teens could reach out to other teens about their own problems. I underwent an intensive thirteen-week training program that covered issues ranging from relationship struggles to suicidal thoughts, as well as how to listen and empathize with those struggling. Soon, I was on the line, answering calls from across the globe. Every week, I devoted five hours to Teen Line, entering the hotline room with a clear mindset: one that allowed me to forget my worries and just listen to each caller’s story. After every shift, I left the room knowing that a teen somewhere felt just a little bit better that night, and that knowledge always made me feel better as well.

I’ve been answering phone calls as a Teen Line listener for a year, and after hearing some of the tragic stories of other teens—a girl who was placed into foster...

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2313 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in