How do you want to get involved in your
community this coming year? Is there an organization that you're finally
going to join? A neighbor who could use a hand? Or do you have a great
idea that just needs a little momentum? Share how you'd like to get
involved in your community during 2014.
Until the last several year I've been very active in community service: a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement teacher, helping at our local senior center, church stuff, planning teams for Relay for Life, and a local youth art program, to name a few. But of late, I haven't been much of a community volunteer. I have one reason: I'm burned out.
My day job is a tough one. I'm also the person in charge of our extra-curricular art program and a co-chair of our prom committee. Everything I do in working for a school at a juvvie lock-up facility just makes me tired, and most of my volunteer work has always been with kids- sort of a do what ya know. My students are high risk. They're recovering drug addicts, cutters, suicidal, victims of some sort of abuse... kids who have attachment disorders, anger management issues, defiant disorder, depression--- a whole host of any and everything. Sometimes a day in the library is exhausting.
And somehow when I volunteer I get involved in HUGE projects. And I plan them or am in charge. I like being in charge and creative, but again, this dovetails right into what I do for a living.
Don't get me wrong! I like my job! Really!
But I'm a firm believer in community service. In volunteering, In helping out.
In 2014 I'm going to go back to volunteering somehow. I have no idea what I want to do. I don't want to do anything working with kids- that just feels like an extension of what I do for my day job. I want to do something different. I'm not sure what that will be. I know there are a variety of opportunities for me. I need to pick one or two...I want something out of my normal realm and something where I'm not in charge. I want to be the average worker bee...
So in 2014 I'll be on a quest to find a new and different volunteer experience. I wanna help and I want to be happy-- and have fun at the same time.
Maggie
4 comments:
Good luck, I know you will find your niche.
You could be a race director. Make it one where you get a medal at the end...I want a race medal :) That's something different, right?
Try Habitat for Humanity. I love volunteering for these guys - I have learnt so many skills and even though I'm great at some things and now get put in charge (like shingling) there's other stuff I've never done and just get to be a minion - even after 2 years of volunteering 10-15 hours a week. I love getting to work outside and actually create something I can see and touch, it's a nice change from studying or office work. And working construction, most of the people I am around are all guys which I find is a nice change in perspective and attitude occasionally as most of my friends are women, That said, if the construction aspect doesn't appeal there's numerous positions in their front office or restore. And some of the families we build for are straight up awesome which makes the experience even better.
Try Habitat for Humanity. I love volunteering for these guys - I have learnt so many skills and even though I'm great at some things and now get put in charge (like shingling) there's other stuff I've never done and just get to be a minion - even after 2 years of volunteering 10-15 hours a week. I love getting to work outside and actually create something I can see and touch, it's a nice change from studying or office work. And working construction, most of the people I am around are all guys which I find is a nice change in perspective and attitude occasionally as most of my friends are women, That said, if the construction aspect doesn't appeal there's numerous positions in their front office or restore. And some of the families we build for are straight up awesome which makes the experience even better.
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