CA548 Paige Hsieh Personal Case

Young Life Palo Alto

PAIGE HSIEH

PAIGE’S STORY

I was first introduced to Young Life during the summer of 2014. I was not a Christian, but I was intrigued by religion and wanted to learn life, I was struggling with severe depression and was in a dark place. A couple months before summer, my friends were talking about summer to come. They shared memories from the year before and it sounded like a blast. I remember thinking to myself, “Why not try it? What

I proceeded to get on the bus a couple months later to go to Woodleaf, a Young Life summer camp. To no one’s surprise, it ended up being life,” which is a common phrase among students who go to Young Life camp. I had a true blast — playing games, getting dirty, meeting importantly being introduced to Jesus and His love for me. I don’t think there could’ve been a more perfect camp for me to attend, as Young those who have never heard the gospel before, and that was true of me. At the end of the week, I stood up in the “say so” and accepted of a group of 500 others. I went home and continued to develop a close relationship with Jesus, which ultimately led to healing my depression even in hard times.

Fast forward to college, Young Life became my main source of community. I was a volunteer leader for local high school students in Burlington, I got to play a mentor role in their lives like those who had a done the same for me when I was a high school student. I am absolutely thrilled Life journey, this time on sta in my own neighborhood in the Bay Area. I know kids need Jesus now more than ever and I see my high school students in Palo Alto, struggling with mental health and questioning their larger purpose. It is such a joy to get to be a part of students’ do life with them and introduce them to the greatest love they will ever know!

learn more. At this time in my summer camp and invited me do I have to lose?”

being the “best week of my new friends and most Young Life is designed for ccepted Jesus into my heart in front depression and giving me hope Burlington, North Carolina, and thrilled to continue my Young school self in many of the students’ lives in Palo Alto — to get to

AREA OVERVIEW

Young Life started in Palo Alto over 50 years ago. Currently, students who come to Young Life attend both of the public high schools, Palo Alto High School and Henry M. Gunn High School, as well as two of the three middle schools, Greene Middle School and Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School. While students don’t need to go to these schools to be a part of Young Life in Palo Alto, this is where we have many of our established relationships, and you can find sta and leaders plugging in at these schools. You may find us coaching sports teams, bringing lunch for students, praying on campus and getting to know school sta , among many other things.

Students in Palo Alto are extremely successful and high achieving and are involved in many extracurriculars; sports, music and arts, community service, etc. As successful as these students are, there are many students deeply struggling and needing Jesus. According to the 2021-2022 California Healthy Kids Survey, 31% of 11th graders and 23% of 9th graders in the Palo Alto school district have felt chronic sadness or hopeless feelings in the last 12 months. Just as heartbreaking, 18% of 11th graders and 14% of 9th graders had seriously considered attempting suicide in the last 12 months. As you can see from these two statistics, mental health is a prevalent issue in the community. Young Life exists to build relationships with students, love them and support them in all ways and introduce them to Jesus, the greatest hope of all.

"Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

— 1 Thessalonians 2:8

VISION

• One full-time sta person and one part-time sta person for both WyldLife and Young Life.

• Have at least two male and two female leaders at each school site (Gunn, PALY, JLS, Greene and Fletcher), with each leader having meaningful relationships with at least 10 students.

• Plan a weekly event to gather students together for community.

• Bring 100 middle and high school students to summer camp.

• Form partnerships at Stanford to create a leader training pipeline.

Operating Budget

Sta Salaries and Benefits:

Operating: Training and Administration: Program: Budget Total:

Ways to Give

Give Online:

• Go to https://giving.younglife.org/paigehsieh

Personal Fundraising Goal

By Mail:

Personal checks may be made out to Young Life, with "CA548 — Paige Hsieh" on the memo line, and sent to:

Palo Alto Young Life — Paige Hsieh 1265 Beech Street East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Young Life is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and has maintained that membership through a yearly review of its compliance with the ECFA’s standards.

Young Life was incorporated in 1941 by Jim Rayburn, a seminar y student and part-time youth minister in Gainesville, Texas, who wanted to reach out to kids disinterested in church. Rayburn went where kids were and found creative ways to share the love of God with them. His methods continue to transform lives today.

Paige Hsieh

650-393-3011

paigephsieh@gmail.com