You can still make a difference! We are hearing from Young Adult authors, what about the Young Adults!?

[Devyn]

I love to volunteer, however I am very shy.
Can you find the problem?

Last Saturday a group of friends and myself went to go canvassing for Obama. I had no idea what canvassing meant, to me its going 'door to door'. If you could have seen the look on my face when I was informed on what canvassing was, my small group of people decided to hang out at the office and make phone calls.

You would not believe how immature people on the telephone can be. It was really hard to bite your tongue at some comments that were made, but I held my head high for what I believed in and kindly thanked the people for their time and hung up, that is if they had not hung up on me first.

Don't get me wrong, out of the sixty phone calls I made, alot of people were not home. I would say I had 20 rude people, 10 polite non-interested people and one very kind man who let me talk his ear off and then excitedly shouted into the telephone that he was indeed voting for Obama, and applause broke out in the background!

That is what is what kept me going that day, the one phone call. The one person that had enough hope for the United States to make a difference--to change the mess we are in. Four people sat in the back room making phone calls when two volunteers walked in, making the already cramped room--even smaller.

We began talking with the other two people. There was a local female volunteer and a 'celebrity' which at the time I had no idea who he was. We had a nice chat and he shared his own canvassing story; he was terrified to knock on strangers doors and talk to them, but like everyone else he believes in change!

We followed the man into the main office; when a peppy woman walked in and the people she was canvassing with announced "RACHAEL REGISTERED SOMEONE!", in which we all broke into applause. This being our first time me and my friend Kris stood awkwardly in the office watching people when the girl named Rachael walked over to us and started talking about how her canvassing went and thanked us over and over for taking part in the events.

After a quick conversation, Kris brought up Josie and the Pussycats and Rachael exclaimed "I STILL HAVE THOSE SONGS STUCK IN MY HEAD!" and they both laughed. I stood there still not knowing who this woman was so I politely asked "Who did you play in the movie?" when she smiled and said "I was Josie!"--It made me feel like a total fool, because I did indeed watch the movie when it was released and enjoyed it, it was "THE" Rachael Leigh Cook. We took a photo with her and the people they were traveling with announced that they would have to leave to go to another location.

Erica--a volunteer walked up to the man that we talked to previously and he walked over to us and took a photo with us. Kris seemed to be on cloud nine--and I later learned that the man was from a TV show called The OC, His name was Adam Brody.

Because of what Adam shared with me and Kris, we sucked up all of our fears and spent an hour canvassing. It was an amazing experience and I am looking forward to doing it again!

I'm not writing this blog to say "Guess who I met!", It's more of a look at this story. I am an eighteen year old I am making a difference (same as my 'assistant' Chelsea), with two Sixteen year olds who can NOT vote but they want to make a difference.

"Normal" people next to "celebrities"--when underneath it all they are as normal as you and me, and the most important thing is they too want change!

Its still not late to get out there and get active!
Voting is not until November, and every vote counts--if you want change DO SOMETHING, In the end there really is no excuses--anyone can make phone calls, do computer work--WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE, YES WE CAN!

(For anyone interested you can view photos on my profile.)
XO
Devyn Burton

[Genevieve]

That is all too cool. Just the fact that you consider yourself a shy person and you were able to get out of your comfort zone is just FANTASTIC. I hope that your story will inspire other people to get involved, because if I wasn't already, it sure would have!

(Meeting Adam Brody is also cool. : P)

[Carrie Jones]

I have said it before and I will say it again: I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!

[Jo Knowles]

Go Devyn!!!!!!

You are my hero.

[Melissa Walker]

Devyn, This is an amazing story!! I have to admit that I've been too shy to do this, too. My home state of NC is in play now, though, and I just might need to get down there... thanks for the inspiration!

[Robin Wasserman]

Thanks for sharing your story, that was great (and not just because I'm swooning at the thought of encountering Adam Brody face to face) -- there's nothing that terrifies me more than the thought of going up to a bunch of strangers and asking them for something, but reading this makes me think it might not be so bad after all!

[Diana Rodriguez Wallach]

That's an awesome story! Love the photos! It's amazing the work celebrities are doing for this campaign. I just went to a free Bruce Springsteen concert yesterday in Philly to encourage the registration of Obama voters. Everyone's getting it this, and it's exciting to see teens getting so involved in their first election. Keep it up!

[Daria]

Hey Devyn! I am also volunteering and, although I am twice your age, I was also terrified of canvassing (and phone banking). I can tell you that in my experience so far, canvassing is actually more fun than phone banking. People are less likely to be rude to a smiling person on their front proch than they are to a faceless voice on the phone. So, if you're up for it, give it a try! Either way, thanks so much for all you're doing! Your time, energy, and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated!

[Reese]

Good for you.

[Sam]

Yeah, we have a club at school that meets for Obama, and I've been phone banking every Wednesday. People really can be very rude--I've had dozens of people hang up, one person call me a communist, and two others tell me to go to hell.
The good phone calls make it worth it, though.

[Anne W.]

Lol, this just goes to show how volunteering gives you good karma points! Seriously though, it's really awesome that you got to make a difference. Gold stars for having the guts to call complete strangers on the phone!

Between this site, this blog post, and everything else, I'm definitely thinking about talking to people at my school to see about some sort of volunteering. Have to do my homework first though *cringe*.

And I'm totally telling my OC-fan best friend that you met Adam Brody! :D