My Story with Volunteer Services
I love my little sister to death but oh my, she has a history. I used to silently shake my head at her drinking fiascos. There was the time she went to class wasted and proceeded to black out, fall out of her chair, and come to consciousness three hours later on the floor of a random bathroom stall. Another time she woke up after a night heavy drinking to find a dog in her bed — literally, a canine — a gorgeous golden retriever she apparently took off the street. And how about when she drunkenly kicked in her bedroom window because she’d left her purse (including keys) at the bar.
At first I thought these made for great stories but then I realized she had a drinking problem. Fortunately she eventually realized it too and sought help from a number of outlets. One of the sources she turned to was a group counseling center aimed at young adults with substance abuse problems. As she became more involved with it, she invited me over there to check out the digs. I was struck by how accommodating the staff was but regrettably surprised by how short-staffed they were. The center was run mainly by volunteers and there was definitely a shortage of people willing to donate their time. I was interested in volunteering but not having any sort of background in the area, I didn’t think that there’d be a place for me there. After making some inquiries and going through screening, they offered me a position assisting with administrative duties.
I wasn’t sure of how much I’d be contributing to the cause but once I got started, I realized how vital every position is. With the time I spent answering phones or photocopying materials, someone else was free to work directly with the participants. And making sure everything is running smooth on the admin side ultimately helps the patients as it holds the center together. I’d always thought that volunteering meant reading to children or wheeling around senior citizens. I suppose I failed to consider that you can always find some sort of volunteer project for whatever you’re passionate about. Through my sister, I’d grown very passionate about substance abuse prevention/recovery and I was happy to contribute to the cause in some way. For anyone who doesn’t think volunteer work is for them, I’d suggest analyzing your interests and finding related opportunities. I’m not the most expressive person when it comes to emotions but at the risk of sounding sentimental, I can honesty say volunteering has been an extremely fulfilling experience.
