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By Eloise When I started university, there were lots of different clubs and activities advertised to us in those first couple of weeks, and I signed up for a couple of each.
Originally, I signed up for different sports and eventually for a film society as well. But I also signed up to hear about what volunteering opportunities there would be, and that is what really shaped my experience there. With volunteering, it’s easy to think: what’s the point? There are so many new things to try, like clubbing, pub trips, socials, free time, classes, clubs… it feels like you’re already splitting yourself between so many things. But for me, I found volunteering gave me the purpose I needed. Unless you have nine-to-five classes, most students find themselves with a few classes each day and not much structure outside of these. I was one of those students. I had little structure and found the days long and repetitive. So, I decided to give a nursery volunteering session a go. There, I found purpose outside of the day-to-day self-focused and motivated goals. I was suddenly surrounded by other people relying on me, and in being useful, I went home at the end of the day feeling like I’d achieved something, which in turn made me more productive in my assignments. It began with volunteering at the nursery, but I found so many opportunities presented themselves, and I ended up helping out at a Christmas Fayre, reading in a primary school with young children and volunteering in a church, helping prep food and clean up. In all these experiences, I made so many new friends and gained so much confidence in my abilities to help and look after others. And they often needed people at the same time each week, so while I could take a break anytime I needed, I could also rely on a routine. These are a few of the volunteering experiences I did, but there are so many different types:
These are just a few different types of voluntary work that you might find at university and/or in your local area, but different places will need volunteers in other fields. Giving to the community is bound to make you feel more productive and happier all around. And whilst you’re doing it, you get to make somebody else’s day a little bit easier. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to gain experience in a field you know nothing about, or a field you want to go into when you apply for jobs. It also looks good on your CV! So, when they ask for volunteers for a specific project at university, or you see the voluntary part of the fresher’s fair, give it a look and consider whether it might be a good choice for you as well.
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By Chita  Maybe it is a “me” thing, but I’ve always enjoyed volunteering. Although I am aware that doing unpaid work is a privilege in itself, I would like to highlight how volunteering could make us happy. Volunteering allows us to exchange our time for a rewarding feeling when we help someone or do something meaningful for our community. To me, this is the “payment” from volunteering, and we need to have this “good” feeling. I believe that as human beings facing a lot of challenges throughout our lives, doing good things and feeling good are crucial to make this life happier.
An American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, believed that humans are psychologically motivated by needs. This led to the creation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which pictures five levels of human needs. See the picture below to understand the Hierarchy of Needs further. Picture: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Source: Bitesize Learning Maslow’s theory of needs is called “Hierarchy” and pictured as a pyramid because it is not possible to fulfill the higher needs without fulfilling the basic ones. Like I mentioned, being able to volunteer is a privilege in itself. To be able to volunteer, one must have had their basic needs for survival and security fulfilled first. I would say that volunteering is our way to fulfill our needs for love, belonging, and esteem – the third and fourth tiers of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I believe doing some voluntary work is a necessity for us as humans. Not only will it make the world a bit better by doing something good for the environment or the people around us, but volunteering also allows us to be a bit better. When we relate it to the Hierarchy of Needs, I believe that eventually we will need to do some sort of voluntary work or activity to help us achieve our needs of esteem and self-actualisation. Personally, as I struggled with feelings of belonging and having a meaning in life, volunteering gives me some sense of purpose. When I look back through my life journey and count all the blessings I have experienced, I realise that many of them happened because of someone else’s kindness. Hence, I would like to do something with my life that would allow me to become a blessing for the people around me - to have a sense of purpose. By doing some voluntary work wherever I go or live, I have more opportunities to engage with people, learn their culture and way of life, and eventually learn to fit in, building a sense of belonging. As a bonus, I also make friends through volunteering activities I have done! Therefore, if you have the chance, I would strongly recommend doing some voluntary work. It is a great way to find friends, to know the local community, to fit in and feel that you belong, as well as to gain some confidence and build some respect and reputation. I think of volunteering as a win-win solution that will bring positivity to yourself and your surroundings, and as an important part of your self-actualisation journey that constitutes your personal needs as humans. By Justice B Volunteering. It’s quite an intriguing concept: Helping people, animals, and businesses or organizations, voluntarily and without pay!
Some people see volunteering as a strange, unusual thing, but in reality, volunteering is a fascinating and beautiful experience! Not only is volunteering mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically engaging, but it’s also something genuinely fun and pleasant to take part in. The big question is, “Why take part in something when it’s not required and you don’t get anything from it?” If you think about it, volunteering is actually beneficial for all parties! The party being helped by volunteers benefits from the help, and the volunteer(s) benefits from the experience, knowledge, and new skills gained, the large amount of new possibilities generated, and the happiness, sense of purpose, and confidence attained. I’ve been volunteering in some way or another since I was little. It’s something I’ve always loved, and as I’m getting older, I’m just growing to love it even more! I’ve helped out at senior centers and hospitals, led children's classes at a local church, hosted events with/for my school and community; the list is endless. You may not earn money from sincere volunteering, but money is no comparison to the wonderful things you learn and acquire, and the people you meet, while volunteering. Volunteering is unlike any unforgiving person, it doesn’t care what your past is, or what kind of person you are. Volunteering is accepting of all people, no matter their race, sexuality, or culture. If you haven’t volunteered before, and you haven’t experienced the joyous, sensational feeling of making people happy by doing good, it’s something immensely worth trying. You might find that you’re like me in the fact that making others happy is one of my favorite things in the entire world. There are many different ways you can volunteer in your community, your state and country, online, and even in other countries! I started to expand my volunteer pallet using a website called VolunteerMatch. VolunteerMatch helps you find volunteer opportunities that suit you and your passions! VolunteerMatch offers opportunities in 14 different countries and opportunities you can help with from home! Volunteering is the equivalent of a hot cup of cocoa on the coldest winter day; it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside! Plus, you get to make others feel like they’re on top of the world! Becoming a member of the TWE team was really a lifesaving opportunity for me. I’ve been suffering from mental health issues for over a decade now, and I was finding it hard to see my worth in life and also finding it hard to focus on things too. This lovely girl called Emily, the founder of TWE, reached out to me on Twitter. I like to use Twitter to share my experience with mental health and love reaching out to others who need the support that I have now. Emily direct messaged me on Twitter saying that she had been reading a few of my tweets and she thought I could offer something special to TWE, and she had also seen that I loved to help people too. I was talking to Emily about what TWE was about and she was really informative so I agreed to join the team! The reason I agreed to join Teenagers With Experience was that I have spent my whole life helping people with tough situations and it makes me feel proud of myself. But my problem was that I never take my own advice, I love being a part of TWE because it gives me a chance to use my advice and experience to share with the world that they are not alone. No one should ever suffer in silence like I did when I was first getting bullied. After leaving high school I didn’t really have a reason to wake up, I never had a daily schedule to keep me busy. So that’s why TWE really was a lifesaving opportunity for me! Now, I do have a reason to wake up and I always have something to do when it comes to TWE. I’ve learnt so many new skills whilst I’ve been a part of the team, like how to use Google Drive properly to store articles that I write for the website, and also to schedule posts for our social media too. I’ve also gained more confidence in opening up about my past and accepting things that may have been bothering me. One of the main reasons why I think people should join our team at Teenagers With Experience is to gain new friends that are non-judgemental. We offer advice and support from our own experiences and also from our hearts. TWE is a loving and caring place where I feel safe!
MelWhen did I join TWE?
I joined TWE in early November 2019 when I was 14 and in Year 10. How did I find TWE? TWE first appeared to me in a Facebook group (of all places...) called GCSE Revision. A former member had published their application form for Head Girl and had mentioned an online organisation in the letter. She wrote how it helped her communicate with others and improved her social and teamwork skills, which interested me as it sounded like something I’d fit into. Even though she had left by the time I sent in my application to join, I suppose it restores the saying ‘when one door closes, another one opens’. Why did I join? I joined the organisation for something to do in my spare time, mainly because of the lack of hobbies and activities I do outside of school. Writing is something I enjoy and I always have enjoyed, and TWE has given me the opportunity to actually possibly help someone instead of just writing plain stories which only family members will read. This makes my time worth it and also extremely rewarding. What has my experience been like? My experience here has been great; not only have I been able to write for a real purpose as I mentioned before but I’ve also made new friends on the way who are all from different places. The best thing about TWE is that it’s a safe space for anyone, which is definitely promoted by the members as they are all welcoming, friendly and non judgmental. Everyone here is unique, and the biggest feature about the members here is their strength and resilience, for example when I read some people’s articles, it makes me realise how much harder other people’s lives are than mine and how lucky I am to not have to deal with the things they have been through. Everyone supports each other and really do re-enforce the safe spacity of TWE. What lessons have I learnt from TWE? I have absolutely no clue, but one lesson I’ve learnt (as cheesy as it sounds) is that everyone has a boss wherever you go in life (unless you’re Emily). Another lesson would probably be how to use Google Drive properly, which will definitely come in hand in the future. In conclusion... I think TWE is an amazing opportunity for anyone who isn’t already a part of it for the reasons I have explained above. If you’d like to be a part of a positive, rewarding and friendly organisation then I’d definitely recommend joining. -Fin |
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Teenagers With Experience is an online organisation created to provide teenagers worldwide with an online platform to share their own experiences to be able to help, inform and educate others on a variety of different topics. We aim to provide a safe space to all young people.
Please note that the content on this website is created by teenagers. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, it is important to remember that we are not professional experts. If you are experiencing a crisis or need professional advice, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a helpline. |