by Karlie Duke | Nov 22, 2018 | Mental Health, Support Groups
Hopefully you aren’t tired of celebrating 10 years of Teen Life, because we would not be celebrating if it wasn’t for YOU.
This year, we are thankful for many things, but as we reflect on Thanksgiving Day, we can’t help but show our appreciation to those who have been part of Teen Life for the last 10 years, and especially to those who have impacted the life of a teenager.
So here we go.
Thank you to our staff and board who have poured time, dreams, and vision into Teen Life. Thank you for having a passion and love for teenagers – life lived better started with you. Each idea and encouragement has had a direct impact on the lives of teenagers!
Thank you to our incredible volunteers. You are the ones who make our Support Groups come to life each and every week. You take time out of your busy day to play with play doh, color with crayons, and talk about meaningful topics like relationships, stress, and courage. You are empowering teens, whether you ever get thanked by the students themselves or not.
Thank you to the donors and supporters of Teen Life. Your belief in Teen Life and the future of teenagers cannot be overlooked! You have donated money, resources, expertise, food, baby items, time and so much more. You may not always get to see the faces of the teenagers who are part of Teen Life Support Groups, but you are the reason schools can have free groups on their campus.
Thank you to the counselors and school staff who advocate for students each week. We are honored that we get to partner with you to provide resources to teenagers. You are the voices they trust and the people they look to long after the Teen Life groups end. Thank you for opening your campus and trusting us with your students. Your role and commitment to teens in invaluable!
Thank you to all of the students who choose to be a part of Teen Life Support Groups. You challenge us, make us laugh, make us think, and always keep us on our toes. Thank you for your honesty, candidness, and trust. You are the reason we do this – the reason we recruit, volunteer, create curriculum, and show up every week.
I could go on and on – but I am sure it would turn into one of those Oscar speeches that is way too long and still forgets someone important! We could never express our thankfulness for the last 10 years adequately, but Teen Life’s mission, vision, and growth is because of you.
You are our reason for the season. So humbly, we thank you.
We also encourage you to reach out to who you are thankful for today! Maybe it is a teen in your life or a family member. Maybe you want to reach out to a teacher, youth minister, counselor, or adult who was instrumental in your teen years. Thank those you love, those you just met, or the person who encourages you to keep going. Let’s not let this holiday or season pass without thanking those around us.
Karlie Duke was in one of Teen Life’s original support groups and now is our Marketing & Development Director. She is passionate about encouraging students to live better stories.
by Karlie Duke | Nov 26, 2015 | Uncategorized
The holiday season has arrived at last, and we have so much to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, we want to give you a peek into the lives of our Teen Lifeline staff and what we are thankful for this year!
Ricky Lewis – Executive Director
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
I’m a sucker for the traditional turkey and dressing.
What’s your favorite holiday movie?
Classic: It’s a Wonderful Life, Comedy: ELF
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
On Thanksgiving Day, dinner is any dessert you want!
What you are most thankful for?
I am thankful for many things but family is the biggest. Not just immediate family but also extended family and church family. There are so many things we have had to deal with the last few years, and I wouldn’t have made it without all of these groups of people.
What do you love most about working with students?
The most rewarding part for me is seeing a student realize a new perspective for the first time. Whether that is related to school, family, or their future, it gives me hope that they see the possibility of success in a new way.
Karlie Duke – Communications Director
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
I have always loved my mom’s homemade apple pie – so yummy!
What’s your favorite holiday movie?
I love all Christmas movies, but White Christmas is a clear favorite.
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
Every Christmas Eve, my dad reads us The Polar Express. Even though we have gotten too big to sit on his lap, it’s still my favorite part of the holidays.
What you are most thankful for?
I am thankful for the blessings we have living in America. After going to Haiti this summer, I am especially thankful for the house that keeps me warm and dry, the car that let’s me go to work, the health of my family and all the opportunities I have because of where I was born.
What do you love most about working with students?
I love being able to sit and just listen to the teenagers I work with. When I was in High School, the adults in my life were vital, and now I have the opportunity to listen and speak encouragement into the lives of other teenagers!
Chris Robey – Program Director
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
Mashed Potatoes. Hands down. It has become my job each year to boil, mash, and season the spuds.
What’s your favorite holiday movie?
Home Alone and Elf.
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
Dinovember has become something fun in our family. Our toy dinos “come to life” and engage in shenanigans overnight and our boys discover the chaos when they get up in the morning. Also, I really enjoy anything engaging in Advent.
What you are most thankful for?
Definitely my family. Getting married a little later in life than most makes me remember the days I was single and didn’t have all of this. My wife and boys remind me daily how awesome things can be and how blessed I really am.
What do you love most about working with students?
I love playing a unique role in a student’s life. For so many, they don’t have anyone to help them think and reflect – which is a new skill set for an adolescent. I love not knowing what I am getting into when I meet a new student. Teenagers are in the “in between” time of life where they could be playful like a child or truly reflective and engaging like an adult.
At Teen Lifeline, we are especially thankful for YOU! Thank you for the support, encouragement and time poured into us and the lives of teenagers. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
