A Letter From a JamQuest Parent

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​As a parent, from the first day that my kids were born, I had many hopes and dreams for them as they grew. However, one of the qualities I hope all parents want in their children is that they would one day become contributors of society. JamQuest has been an outstanding training ground for my son and daughter. The program has offered many active service opportunities for my children and it has served as an essential vessel of training them in leadership skills. For me, seeing the collaboration of young people coming together for a common good has been extremely convicting and powerful.

JamQuest has not only changed the lives of my children, but has changed my family as a whole. I have watched entire towns be stirred by young people’s initiative to make a difference and I have witnessed a camaraderie between middle 

school students and high school students with the dedication to come together; not for competition, but rather to become a stronger force in being able to serve others. Whether the goal was to rally together to play basketball, have a walk or an assembly, throw a party, write thank you cards or just make a plan for how to help the less fortunate, I have watched as these kids have become committed in unity to serve the greater good.

I have watched many young people get the chance to look from outside their bubble of everyday life and gain compassion and perspective, as well as a thankful spirit for what they have been given. JamQuest helps our youth discover what they uniquely bring to this world and let it shine! For instance, my son loved basketball and that was his passion. He wanted to create a basketball tournament that would raise awareness and funds for kids in need in Africa. But JamQuest also helped my daughter to unlock her gift of card writing and personal private expression of encouragement. She went on to start what she called “the encouragement revolution” to write cards to random people that needed words of encouragement. I have had her teachers in high school say to me, “Your daughter changed our school because of her encouragement revolution.” As a parent, to watch your child express themselves and become the best version of themselves in order to give back to the world is a wonderful thing to witness.

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​What JamQuest has done for my kids:
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INSPIRED them to take action in the face of injustice and advocate for the voiceless.
 
ENCOURAGED them to find their voice – It has taught my children that their individual gifts and talents can be used in a unique way to help others-Do You For Others!
 
EMPOWERED them to learn to lead, rally, delegate, investigate, research and build team for a cause
 
MOTIVATED them to raise money, raise awareness and allotted them the ability to look outside their immediate surroundings in order to make a greater impact on the world
 
REMINDED them of how much they have and how to use their personal gratitude as an igniting force to help those in need.
 
EDUCATED them that service is for all people and it is a true teacher in and of itself, for when we serve others, we ourselves are able to grow.
 
CONFIRMED that all youth can be a light in a dark situation if they simply choose to care
 
CREATED a vision and purpose in the hearts of our youth, allowing them to realize that everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.
 
CHANGED our lives as a family and we hope we can be agents of change for others
 
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With deepest gratitude to JamQuest,
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Sue Shoff