(NAPSA)—Michael Joseph says hefelt like there was something missing in hislife. Then, he discovered 4-H and Youth Agent Marvin Young in Orleans Parish, =<& Pear ea1d LA. All at once, he found a men- Cooperative “-tension $ ra tor, role model andclose friend. The New Orleans teen had been in trouble. Picked up for multiple curfew violations, he was assigned by the court to a curfew center for a series of life skills classes. It was there wherehis life first started to change. One of the most successful class participants, Michael was referred to the parish’s 4-H Teen Leadership Program, where he quickly becamea star. Michael admits that he had been going down the wrong path before he joined 4-H, but he just did not know how to change directions. He credits Young and 4-H with helping him discover his potential and putting him on the right track. “T don’t exactly have a father figure. Mr. Marvin took an interest in me. He always hastime for you even though he’s a busy, busy man. Hesaid to me, ‘I see some- thing in you that’s different,” Michaelsaid. Michael noticed changes in himself in just the first few weeks after he joined 4-H. “My communication skills kept getting better and better. I changed my focus on life. It was a world outside of what I knew,”he said. Now in college, Michael emerged as a popular leader among his Michael Joseph (L) with his men- tor, 4-H and Youth Agent Marvin Young. friends in the 4-H community. He was nominated vice president of the 4-H teen program, attended Louisiana 4-H Junior Leadership Conference and is a 4-H camp counselor and mentorto other kids. “(Michael has] a quiet strength. When you’re around him, you feel a desire to want to do better,” Youngsaid. Although his life has not always been easy, he regretslittle except that he did not join 4-H sooner. “I couldn’t see my life as good as it is without 4-H,” Michael said. “I was an incomplete puzzle that 4-H fulfilled.” To learn more about 4-H youth development clubs and programs anywhere in America, visit 4HUSA.ORG (www.4husa.org). You may find your own community of friends through 4-H.
