Challenge yourself ! 15-year-old Kyle Washington writes about what he does in his free time.
    I joined the National Youth Challenge （NYC） last year because I knew they went camping and sailing and taught skills like public speaking，and these were things I'd never done before.In the NYC you can do different activities to challenge（挑战）yourself and you're always learning something.There are different levels，from beginner to advanced，run by adult volunteers called "leaders".When you complete each level you get a certificate （证书）.
     When I first joined，my leader suggested that my first challenge should be helping organize activities at a local children's club for two hours a week.I wasn't sure if it was a good idea.I'd joined that same club when I was eight and I'd found it really difficult to make friends.I was quite shy then and all the other children already had their own friendship groups，so I'd stopped going after a couple of weeks.I decided to take up the challenge though，but only because I wanted my first NYC certificate.
    Soon，however，I wanted to spend all my free time at the children's club.It meant a lot more to me than just getting the certificate.And when I finished the challenge，the NYC leader let me keep on volunteering at the club because I'd built up some great relationships with the children there.Now I go there for about four hours a week and I always really look forward to going.
    Because of what I've learnt at the children's club，I've decided that when I finish school in three years' time，I want to go to college to study to become a qualified youth worker- someone who works with children.It wasn't something I'd ever considered before starting at the club.In fact，I'd never thought about my future job，and the idea of youth work had never entered my mind.This has been my favourite part of the NYC so far and I've improved my communication skills while at the same time helping others.I've got several other NYC certificates now and - yes，one of them is for camping!

（1）Kyle joined the NYC to improve some of his skills，didn't he？

Yes，he did.

Yes，he did.

（2）Who runs the different activities in the NYC？

Adult volunteers called "leaders".

Adult volunteers called "leaders".

（3）What was Kyle's first challenge in the NYC？

It was helping organize activities at a local children's club for two hours a weck.

It was helping organize activities at a local children's club for two hours a weck.

（4）Why didn't Kyle want to take up his first challenge at first？

Because he found it really difficult to make friends.

Because he found it really difficult to make friends.

（5）What does a qualified youth worker mainly do？

He mainly works with children.

He mainly works with children.

（6）What has Kyle gained from the NYC？

Kyle has improved his commanication skills and he has got several other NYC certificate.

Kyle has improved his commanication skills and he has got several other NYC certificate.