Caitlin Boon, 18, of Cabarrus County,
describes her personal experience with 4-H.
title
People often ask me, "What is 4-H?" This is a question that is not easy to answer in just a few words because 4-H is not just a club I attend. For me, 4-H is like a family and a way of
life, that began when I was six years old and continues to the present day.
This family of parents, adult leaders, staff of North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the 4-H'ers themselves has helped me and so many other young people learn basic life skills, explore various career choices, develop a healthy lifestyle, and gain leadership and public speaking abilities.
Learning to speak in front of large groups and to be a good leader are among the most important skills that I have gained through 4-H. I remember my first year as a 4-H'er at age 6.
It was Christmas time, and I was going to do my first oral presentation on "How to Enjoy the Holidays Safely" for my club, the Harrisburg Helpers. My parents helped me put together this three-minute talk, and I was really excited about doing it.
However, at the meeting I got really nervous because I was a shy child, and most of the kids in my club were teenagers. After the other 4-H'ers begged me to do my presentation, I got up and did just fine. I still remember how great I felt afterwards when the teens in my club, who seemed to me like Barbie dolls who had come to life, told me what a great job I had done.
Since that first presentation, there have been many other chances for me to speak in public to help educate and lead others, interview for scholarships and travel opportunities, or to simply voice my opinion. Just being able to speak up in public without the fear that so many people have is an incredible boost to a young person's self esteem.
Not only have I had these opportunities in my local community, but also during 10 national events and numerous state events. 4-H scholarships that I earned from my 4-H project work paid for most of the trips to these events.
With more confidence in my public speaking ability, I began learning how to be a good leader. I learned that it is essential to treat everyone with the same respect that the teens in my
local club had given me as a 6 year old. 4-H teaches you how to nurture those who are younger and how to be a good role model.
Another aspect of the 4-H that has been incredibly helpful to me are the program's ties to North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University through North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Because 4-H is part of these universities, I could turn to professionals at both institutions any time I had a question about a project I was doing for 4-H.
I truly believe that this gave me an advantage over many of my high school peers. I was not intimidated to talk to these university professionals because it was something that I had done while grown up. The knowledge and experiences that I gained from working in 4-H also helped me decide on my future career and how to prepare for that. I also felt at home on a college campus because so many 4-H events are held at universities, and I was accustomed to meeting people from all around the nation.
By now you may be thinking that 4-H is just a lot of work. It is, but 4-H'ers also know how to have fun! What is nice about the fun we have at 4-H events is that teens don't have to worry about what to do if they are offered drugs or alcohol. 4-H events are always well chaperoned, and the good self esteem that 4-H instills in the youth eliminates these problems from our gatherings.
I treasure how 4-H brings together youth from so many different backgrounds. 4-H is no longer just the "cows and cooking" projects that it once was. We still have these project areas, but times have changed and with that change 4-H has adjusted to meet the interests of today's young people. Across North Carolina, youth are involved in everything from showing livestock, to creating Web sites on computers, performing dramatic arts or building model rockets.
It is amazing to think of all of the opportunities that are available to youth in this program, but what is even more amazing is to see kids from every background and interest working together and having a wonderful time. Seeing this was always refreshing, having come from
junior high and high school settings where some people wouldn't talk to you if you wore the wrong brand of tennis shoes.
At age 18, I am almost at the end of my 4-H career as a youth. However, I can now become an adult volunteer and continue my involvement with my "4-H family." We are always recruiting youth to the program because we know its value. Any youth ages 5 to 19 or any adult in serving as a 4-H volunteer should contact the North Carolina Cooperative Extension center in their county to find out how to join.
title
