Keeping the Faith

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 25, 2018

Work with youths opens minds to possibilities

Seven years ago, Tim Lubben, a instructor, suffered a mysterious paralysis of his legs, the cause of which doctors still have not determined. Losing function in his legs and having to use a wheelchair, combined with the lack of a diagnosis, discouraged Lubben and shook his once-strong faith. However, he persisted and gradually regained his positive outlook, while remaining dedicated to teaching at Kennesaw State.

He now is applying that experience to help teenagers who are struggling with their own obstacles in life. Lubben is volunteering with teens detained in Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, teaching them sociological principles related to society and culture and their impact on behavior and identity. He hopes they can apply the lessons to become productive and law-abiding citizens.

鈥淭hings happen to some kids that make them say, 鈥業鈥檝e lost my faith.鈥� The same thing happened to me, and I worked through it,鈥� Lubben said. 鈥淔or me, there is a spiritual component to this. I feel like I鈥檓 called to help people and to communicate love.鈥�

Lubben began the initiative during the fall 2017 semester, working with teens at the DJJ鈥檚 Regional Youth Detention Center in Marietta, and he volunteered at the RYDCs in Hampton and Rome during the spring 2018 semester. He visits the students on Saturdays for three consecutive weeks, teaching a different principle each time.

鈥淎lthough Tim鈥檚 volunteerism with DJJ is only in its infancy, we are seeing success as the youths are attentive and engaged in his group,鈥� said Christi Turner, a volunteer coordinator for the agency. 鈥淭he youths are learning material that increases not only their knowledge, but also their self-esteem. They realize they can set future goals that they previously might not have thought of as being attainable.鈥�

Lubben credited 无码变态 Interim President Ken Harmon with supporting his idea while Harmon was serving as the University鈥檚 provost. Lubben then reached out to a friend, state Rep. Wes Cantrell of Woodstock, who serves on the Georgia House of Representatives鈥� Juvenile Justice Committee. He said Cantrell 鈥渓oved the idea鈥� and helped put it in motion with DJJ.

鈥業 want them to think鈥�

Lubben utilizes activities and games to involve the teenagers in the lessons. For example, he asks the students if they would rather have a $20 bill or a $5 bill 鈥� and, naturally, they all respond that they want the $20.

鈥淪o I hand out a Monopoly $20 bill to them. Then I put a real $5 bill there,鈥� Lubben said. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to get them to think, to make their own decisions and avoid groupthink 鈥� which is what landed some of them in the detention center. They became involved in criminal activity because 鈥榚veryone else was doing it.鈥�

鈥淭he idea is that people are trying to sell you stuff or communicate ideas to you all the time, and you have to think, 鈥楧o I really believe that?鈥欌€� Lubben continued. 鈥淚 use real-life examples, and they see how what I鈥檓 saying applies to their lives.鈥�

His efforts are making a difference. One of the fall semester participants called Lubben鈥檚 course 鈥渁mazing,鈥� and another said it 鈥渙pened my mind in many ways.鈥�

鈥淚 felt like the course helped me look and think about the world differently,鈥� one student said. 鈥淚 would love to participate in more courses like this. They could help me prepare for other classes or just life in general.鈥�

At the conclusion of his sessions with each group, Lubben presents a certificate to every student recognizing 鈥渆xceptional participation in introduction to sociological theories.鈥� The teens then can present the certificate to a judge to show they are serious about staying on the right path in life.

鈥淭hey can take it to the judge at a hearing and say, 鈥楲ook what I鈥檓 doing. I am trying to better myself so I can fit in the real world better,鈥欌€� Lubben said. 鈥淲hen I was concluding with my first group, they were asking me, 鈥榃hen do I get my certificate? I want to take it to the judge.鈥� So that shows me that it鈥檚 important to them. They鈥檙e validating what they did.鈥�

A 无码变态 family

One reason Lubben feels so compelled to help the young offenders under the care of DJJ is that he understands the difficult upbringing many of them have had. Some have grown up in extreme poverty; others have parents who are addicted to drugs or are serving time in prison.

鈥淢any of these kids have nothing,鈥� Lubben said. 鈥淎t 12, 14 years old, their first time (breaking the law) is stealing food because they have no food. What a way to start.鈥�

That also gives Lubben a greater appreciation for his own family that has been with him through his challenges. He even gets to see them at times on the campus where he has taught since 2012, first in sociology and now as a part-time instructor of health promotion and physical education in the .

All four of Lubben鈥檚 daughters have graduated from or currently are attending Kennesaw State. In fact, his two middle daughters 鈥� Kirsten, a sociology major, and Mackenzie, a public relations major 鈥� received their degrees on the same day. His youngest daughter, Savannah, is a senior studying human services, and his eldest daughter, Megan, is pursuing her master鈥檚 after having earned her exercise science degree from 无码变态.

鈥淜ennesaw State is a great school,鈥� Lubben said. 鈥淚 love it.鈥�

鈥� Paul Floeckher

Photos by Lauren Kress

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