Volunteering has never been important in my family, as I have stated in an earlier blog, I got started because I wanted to learn about a hospital setting and...because it was my punishment. My mom grounded me and instead of taking my privileges away, she made me volunteer at the hospital she works at. From the beginning I didn't have the best few of volunteerism. In high school there were groups on campus that did community service, but I thought it was just to improve their resumes and to be "good people." College was all the teachers talked about, they never stressed the emotional, societal importance of volunteering. Until this class I hadn't quite made the connection between volunteerism and change. I knew that some people volunteered to help make someone else's life a little easier and I know that it is considered a change no how matter small. What I didn't realize was that the huge movements in our history's past was caused by volunteers. I thought they were superhuman... They had a cause/idea and it was their life. Poof. Just like that. How silly of me not to realize how encompassing the term volunteer is. After reading Loeb's book, I feel as though I need to re-learn my history lessons and apply my new insight.
I wonder now if my high school classmates understood the importance behind their volunteerism? Or if they were just resume building like I thought?
I understand how much more comfortable it is to participate in one-on-one volunteering, but for some it may need to start there. Take myself as an example, I am not one of those people who will theoretically jump in a swimming pool. I put one toe in at a time. The lesson that the Stanford student story offers to me is that once I test the waters, I shoudn't be afraid to jump. I know that the water is cold, but I know that I need jump to happen in order for me to swim. The Stanford student volunteered at a homeless shelter, but didn't take the next step or jump. Many of us don't. This is why I don't think that a world will exsist where people won't sleep in shelters. It will take awareness and much more dedication than most people are willing to give. I hope for the change, but I feel it will take a long time to open the people's eyes that are sewn shut by their ignorance.
I wonder now if my high school classmates understood the importance behind their volunteerism? Or if they were just resume building like I thought?
I understand how much more comfortable it is to participate in one-on-one volunteering, but for some it may need to start there. Take myself as an example, I am not one of those people who will theoretically jump in a swimming pool. I put one toe in at a time. The lesson that the Stanford student story offers to me is that once I test the waters, I shoudn't be afraid to jump. I know that the water is cold, but I know that I need jump to happen in order for me to swim. The Stanford student volunteered at a homeless shelter, but didn't take the next step or jump. Many of us don't. This is why I don't think that a world will exsist where people won't sleep in shelters. It will take awareness and much more dedication than most people are willing to give. I hope for the change, but I feel it will take a long time to open the people's eyes that are sewn shut by their ignorance.
Thank you for sharing Lindsay, I think many people feel or have felt the same way you did, which is why you are an awesome tool now to spreading awareness and empathizing with those who think that volunteering is solely for personal gain.
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