Community service helps combat peer pressure

A new survey suggests there may be a possible relationship between youths' involvement in community service and being less likely to yield to peer pressure.

The survey, commissioned by Start Something, a free character education, volunteer service and career exploration program from Target and the Tiger Woods Foundation, states that nearly half (42 percent) of youth who participate in community service never or hardly ever feel uncomfortable due to peer pressure.

The Target survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, states 51 percent of youth who participate in community service report being not afraid of being bullied, and 37 percent of youth ages 8 to 17 who are involved in community service report having a "very good" relationship with their parents.

Sixty-three percent of youth who are involved in community service report it is "extremely important" or "very important" to set high goals for themselves versus 46 percent of youth who are not involved in community service.

Target and the Tiger Woods Foundation are hoping to reach the 24 percent of survey respondents ages 13 to 17 who reported they are "not at all involved" in community service with a new High School Self-Study Guide, designed for highly motivated high school students who would like to go through the Start Something program individually or with a mentor.

The curriculum helps youth define a specific personal goal and develop an action plan to achieve it while giving back to their community and exploring careers that fit within their areas of interest.

Start Something has enrolled more than 3.8 million youth across the country since the program's launch in 2000.

The Start Something program is available to teachers, youth group leaders and high school students by calling (800) 316-6142 or downloading from www.Target.com/ startssomething.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.