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Some people volunteer because a certain amount
of volunteer hours are required to graduate from high school. Some
people volunteer because they enjoy helping people. Some people
volunteer because it makes them look good in front of other people.
There are many factors that motivate people to volunteer. I volunteer
because my volunteer experiences have shaped my life and, most
importantly, because volunteering allows me to focus on what I
can give to others, as opposed to what I can get for myself.
When
I was in elementary school, I went to Romania with my church youth
group. The experiences I had in Romania, especially working in
various orphanages, caused me to realize that I have so much to
give to those who are less fortunate than I am. I haven’t
had another overseas volunteer experience since then, but I have
come to realize that there are people with needs here in Canada,
right in my own back yard, and I have the power to make an impact
on local peoples’ lives. My trip to Romania caused me to
think about how I could give of myself to others, and so when I
came back to Canada, I started doing some local volunteer work.
Most recently, some of my friends and I began a once-a-month after
school program for children in grades 4 to 6 in a small town called
Angus. Many of these boys and girls are unable to do extra-curricular
sports or activities, or go to summer camps. We wanted to offer
a program that is fun, free and open for anyone to attend. My church
had run a free Vacation Bible Camp program in this particular town
in the summertime, and many of us who volunteered at the day camp
felt a special sort of love for the children we worked with. However,
we realized that one week of summer camp is not enough time to
build a lasting relationship with a child. So the idea of a monthly
program was created. We called it “R.I.O.T.” which
stands for “Reaching In and Out Together.” I reach
out to the people around me, not because I expect something in
return, but because I know that I have much to give.
The world
today is so focused on “Self.” We all seem so concerned
with our own lives, our own social status and our own feelings
that we sometimes forget that there is a community all around us
of people who are just like us, and some are hurting, lonely, and
in need of a friend. We can so easily forget what it feels like
to do something for someone else. I think that oftentimes, when
we do something for another person, we do it to be seen by others.
In the Bible, I see a different giving style being described. This
is how I desire to serve people. “Be especially careful
when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance
out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't
be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don't call
attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors'
I call them— …acting compassionate as long as someone
is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but
that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about
how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That
is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind
the scenes, helps you out.” (Matthew 6:1-4, The Message Version)
Volunteering allows me to do something helpful and enjoyable with
my time. It is not a chore. One of the greatest feelings I get
is watching the children enjoying themselves and knowing that I
can make a difference.
Amy Konrad
Banting Memorial High School |
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