YR Stories: Carolyn Jones

I truly believe YR saved my life. 10 years ago, I was a shy, awkard, severly depressed 16 year old with not many friends. My mom knew Ann Burnworth, who was YR’s Executive Director at the time, and Ann gave her the YR speech. Before I knew it, I was dragged to a dinner for an organization for kids my age called Youth Resources.

I sat at a table with this girl named Laura Ferguson who was a senior at Central. When she said that she didn’t watch TV, I judged her immediately. She talked to me all night and I gave one word non-answers. (Note from Ferg: The rest is history, and I’m grateful for my 10 year long friendship with Carolyn! And I still don’t watch much TV.)

On the way home, my parents asked me what I thought of the organization. I said “Eh, it’s ok”, to which I recieved a “Too bad, you’re joining in the fall.” I went to a Teen Advisory Council retreat under extreme protest. After I got a bit more comfortable, I fell in love. I joined Teen Court soon after and went to my first TEENPOWER conference that summer.

Over the last 10 years, I have found the most loving, supportive group of people I could ever ask for. Listen to your parents, it just may end up saving your life!

Carolyn Jones was involved with TAC and Teen Court from 2007-2009 and TEENPOWER from 2008-2009. She works in corporate sales as an underwriting assistant at WNIN Tri-State Public Media. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana.

To make a gift in honor of young leaders like Carolyn, visit youth-resources.org/YRday.