Saturday afternoon, I met with a representative from YouthHope, the organization I will be interning at this semester. After we finished filling out paperwork, she began to give me background on the organization and shared stories about young people that YouthHope has helped. As she went on,  the representative told me a story about a young girl whom the organization had met and helped a number of years ago. The girl, who they had come across by in Golden Gate park, was homeless and had been for many years. Her parents weren’t around, and she had no one to care for her. She explained to the representative that she had been on the streets for so long, that she did not even know her own age anymore. That information really struck me, as I could not fathom the experience of having been alone on the streets for so long, that I cannot recall my own age. The representative went on, and explained how the homeless girl had to sell her body for not only money, but also for human interaction and somewhere “safe” to sleep at night. The girl also explained how her friends, other homeless girls, had the same experiences as her. After hearing this story, I couldn’t help but be even more motivated  to volunteer for an organization that helps youth. I would never want to be in the situation that many homeless youth are in, and I realize that I am very privileged to have a home, and the many other things that I take for granted. I am very much looking forward in interning for YouthHope.