Dennis Vasyukhnevich

November 15, 2015

UWRT 1101

Ethnography stage 3 : downdraft #2

As many of you know, there is allot of growing young youth everywhere. The growing
population is but getting bigger and bigger. But who inspires them to grow in a civil and good
manner? One subculture that I took interest in is my youth group at the Slavic Evangelic Church
of Emmanuel. What makes a youth group so special? Better yet who makes the youth group
special? The youth leader of course! I decided to focus my research and conduct a somewhat
case study on youth leaders that teach and guide our youth. I would like to show outsiders that, A
youth has unique qualities of a positive attitude, commitment, selflessness, and passion that bring
together teenaged youth and help guide them on a righteous path and influence them to make
smart choices.

So what is a youth leader? The youth leader can have an endless number of roles in the
life of young punks. Friend, encourager, example, skateboard instructor, Bible teacher, prayer
partner, motivator, maths tutor, mentor, guitar teacher. Im sure theres more! Thats cool. What
an exciting thing to be involved in so many different ways in young lives! However I believe that
fundamental to the role of youth leadership is making disciples who will then go on to make
disciples. What making disciples that will go and make others means is the sole purpose of a
youth leader isnt to just fill growing stage of a teenager or youth, On the contrary their role is to

lead and teach so that one day these students will become youth leaders themselves in their own
ways. Well easier said than done right? In the lines beyond thee, I have taken upon this case
study to see the ways of the youth leader and write their ethnography. While doing so, I came
upon a few characteristics that my youth leader has that makes him stand out, and id like to share
them with you.

It was a Monday night around 6:40 pm when I drove into the church parking 20 minutes
early, I found to be the second car in the lot. The beautiful cl550 Mercedes was already standing
by the gym door as if it never left from the previous day. Hmm? I thought to myself. Why
havent I ever noticed that our youth leader (Andrey), was so involved in leading our youth
before? As I walk into the dimly lit gym, I saw in the dimly lit gym, Andrey quietly working on
setting the chairs out and about to prepare for the Monday night youth gathering. I made a mental
note that the first characteristic that I blatantly see about Andrey from first glimpse is his
Commitment! It takes a lot for someone to always arrive on time, better yet even arrive before
hand so that one could prepare seating and the nights program. Thinking about it, only someone
with a strong commitment can even come close to doing what he does on a continuous basis.

Welcome, Brother Dennis! he rejoiced across the echoing open gym. This I found to
be very interesting later when others started to join us because Andrey for some reason called
everyone brother and sister as much as he could. As more and more people started to file in,
Andrey greeted everyone he could with almost a singing voice! He would crack small but
pleasing jokes that would put faint but at the same time distinct little smiles on peoples faces

that would cheer them up, putting them in a glamorous and excited mood. Some walked in like
they had been waiting all day for this moment while others sulked in like they were forced to
show up and sit through a hearing. Nonetheless the youth leader seemed to treat everyone fairly
and the same. And then the lightbulb started flickering wildly in my head, how is he so positive
all the time. Doesnt anyone piss him off ever so that he maybe yells at someone instead of
always being so happy and smiley? Apart from his glamorous mood, he seems to make everyone
else smile, and sparkle with a good mood. Realizing this, I came to believe this yet another of
Andreys very vivid characteristics which is an outstandingly Positive Attitude which he portrays
on himself and spreads onto others around him.

As the service was about to begin, I made my way about half way towards the back
where I could thoroughly watch Andrey but still keep a safe distance from where he wouldnt
suspect anything. I also picked this seat so I could simultaneously keep an eye on everyone elses
behavior and reactions. And so the program began!
Andrey walked up to the front, greeted everyone and thanked everyone for coming that
night. He was dressed in a grey two piece suit with his top button of his shirt unbuttoned. This
gave him a casual, chill, taking it easy kind of look while at the same time he was dressed
formally and tidy. Then I noticed everyone else you came in jeans and button up polo shirts, and
the girls wore skirts. Of course no one was disrespectful enough to wear shorts and a tank top,
but this got me thinking, why not? Giving it some thought I came to realize that the youth leader
is setting a standard for everyone. If Andrey decided to show up in some ripped up jeans and
some Hollister graphic tee-shirt, what would stop the rest of the crowd from coming to youth
gathering on a church property in basketball shorts and tank tops? Be this a characteristic of a

youth leader or not, but Andrey from what I noticed from the couple of consecutive visits I made
to youth night, always dressed appropriately and casually just enough to show and inspire the
rest of the youth. Thus giving them an unconscious dress code that easily inspires them to have
discipline and respect towards each other and also towards the youth gatherings. As little of
meaning as the characteristic of Positive Appearance holds, it plays a vital role in how our youth
leader inspires and portrays discipline amongst the youth.