Questionnaires: Non-Church Youth Staff Responses

As a part of my Special Study at George Fox Seminary, I desired to hear from non-church youth staff to obtain their input on spiritual formation. Here are results from interviews/questionnaires of church youth staff (completed spring 2009):

1. What trends are you seeing in youth today? "Addicted to technology, cell phones, Internet, text messaging - information is instant, and kids get bored quickly if something isn't "instant." "Youth today are "know-it-all's," wherein they have it altogether. Youth are confused, depressed, disenchanted, angry, neglected, rebellious, and begging for attention." "Youth want to be heard, but do not feel they have what it takes or are discouraged to speak up because adults have filled them with negativity. Youth are crying out for help, but those around them do not seem to be listening." "Why would a student physically harm himself or herself except to cry out because he or she is emotionally, physically, sexually, mentally abused, hurt, or neglected. The trends seen in the youth of today are not occurring just because, they are happening for a reason." "Distraction from electronics! They seem compelled to continually handle them." "Less likelihood to join organizations or participate in enrichment opportunities." "I see kids being easily frustrated and give up when a task requires time and effort." "Youth are creative in style, so when it is important to 'dress up' for a job or event they don't care what the 'older' generation thinks about how they look."
2. What belief systems do you see in youth today? "I have noticed youth seem to have mixed belief systems. He or she may hear something they like and pair it with other information they find useful to their life." "Belief systems are generally based with selfish desires - what the individual is going to benefit from the particular belief. There is much in the way of Christianity, but even this sect of religion is completely divided. Eastern religions are making their way into the lives of American youth as well." "Loyalty to their group of friends." "The belief that respect must be earned, no matter who you are to them." "Heaven, but not hell." "Environmentalism." "Religion." "They believe in very little because of the high rate of failure in our Gen X group-it's hard for our youth to believe in marriage, career, or family support."
3. Where do you see youth finding their sense of community? "From their friends." "Students find community wherever he or she feels accepted. This may be at school, in a club, or in a sport. Sometimes students find community in a local church youth group, regardless of belief system." "Students are drawn to where they 'fit in'. There is not one generalized location or environment where students find a sense of community. Community may be based with just a couple of friends or with a large group of similar individuals." "From their teams or youth group or club." "In whatever peer groups they belong to, for example-sports, gangs, youth groups, choir/band." "With their peers."
4. What role do you see technology having in youth's lives today? "Primary source of information, important communication tool, entertainment, and a less risky way to interact because it is less embarrassing than in person." "Technology plays an important role in the lives of today's youths. Youth communicate electronically for every reason, whether via texting, emailing, Myspace, or Facebook." "Face-to-face communicating nowadays only happens in school and during some extracurricular activities. Youth are disadvantaged by technology because it diminishes the opportunities to learn how to effectively communicate and develop friendships through in-person contact." "They are too reliant on technology." "Disastrous! Technology has erased the need for verbal communication, community, and the basic need of courting. Relationships are sought through technology and human contact is limited."
5. What is your perception of your role in youth's lives? "I am an advocate for traditional concepts but try to put a contemporary perspective to it. I don't want to see the family values lost." "I have spent time as a youth leader for quite a few years. My role has been that of a mentor and positive adult influence. This will always be my role in the lives of youth whether I directly work with them or not." "A helper on their journey." "A person who wants to encourage them and help them find their way." "I have a big role as a high school teacher. I think I can help with self-esteem and be a voice of reason in often bad home situations."
6. What measuring sticks do you use to measure a student's formation? "A student's awareness of their own weaknesses." "I look to the environment in which the student is raised in order to decide on how to measure them." "A student's formation comes from various sources - home life, school, peers, friends, etc." "Student's awareness and empathy towards others." "Honesty, integrity, a work-ethic are easy to identify when teaching." "I don't measure-respecting everyone as an individual and valuing them brings creative value to the community foundation."
7. How do you creatively make space for youth to explore community? "Honestly, I do not do this. However, if given the opportunity, I would provide experiential opportunities for students to be involved in local community activities." " I know of a youth center that was made for high school students only. This space gave them a chance to hang out with peers from all backgrounds, create different friendships, and a place they could get away from younger siblings who were not of age yet." "Invite them to my family events, make time for their family to engage in larger events with the same values." "Plan events for age groups." "Church youth groups are a wonderful way to explore different communities, as students are involved in fun adventures, mission trips, small groups, and larger groups doing various activities." "Involve them in helping others, leading or organizing." "Helping find opportunities to pursue interests." "Encourage participation in a group-sports, music, art, club, or youth group."
8. What do you believe to be youth's greatest need or hurdle today? "One of the biggest hurdles is finding a place of belonging. So often students are rejected by peers and adults because they do not fit certain expectations or qualifications of said group or community." "To feel they belong." "Breaking the cycle of poverty that many grow up with." "Need for family relationships, lower divorce rates, and increase family events." "I think it is harder for our kids to believe in adults because of our shortcomings. This creates a hurdle for them and they have to search history to find their way back to balance." "One hurdle is changing our misguidance and correcting the way we live."
9. What do you believe to be youth's greatest asset today? "They are accepting and have power in large numbers." "Kids use their voices and make things happen." "A student's greatest asset is his or her freshness and/or newness. Students have so much potential." "When young people are guided, they have so much positive influence on their peers and community." "They want to be authentic." "Access to information/knowledge, which is a strength and weakness!" "They are strong and creative and they are techno smart."