When Greg Young heard about CASA for the first time, he was acting as an extra in a movie.
The film was conducting a fundraising campaign, and Greg volunteered to play the role of one of many protestors outside the Supreme Court. The $50 that he and other extras would have earned that day was then donated directly to CASA.
Greg saw the movie later, but he could not find himself in the sea of protesters. The day and memory came and went, taking the information about CASA along with it.
However, about seven or eight years ago, Greg was looking for a volunteer opportunity. He had been teaching middle and high school for eight years, he had taught English in Japan for three years, and he taught at a college for about eight years as well. He was ready for something new but still wanted to have a positive impact on the community’s youth.
“Then I remembered CASA,” said Greg. “It seemed like a worthwhile thing to do and based on my personality, it seemed well suited for me.”
It is true that becoming a CASA Volunteer has been a natural fit for Greg. He has been assigned to five cases, with his current case spanning over four years.
“Each experience is very different from the last,” said Greg, “which actually may be a complete understatement.”
However, Greg confirms that he would not continue doing this work if it was not an overall positive experience. In fact, serving as a CASA Volunteer has allowed Greg to support others beyond his assigned CASA youth.
Recently, Greg’s nephew was going through a difficult time as a new teacher. He turned to Greg for advice. Although Greg was able to pull from his own teaching experience, he was also able to touch on his challenges and growth as a CASA Volunteer.
“Even if it feels like what you’re doing is not having any kind of influence, it definitely is,” explained Greg. “When you’re having those moments of wondering, ‘Why am I doing this?’ remind yourself that just being there is having a positive influence. It’s something important to keep in the back of your mind.”
The path that led Greg to become a CASA Volunteer is not one traveled by most, as it began on the big screen. Although he is not walking down the red carpet, the experience brought Greg exactly where he was meant to be – walking alongside children, youth, and families.
“You just have to do what you can and leave it up to fate to take care of the rest,” said Greg.
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