Volunteering is a chance for both helping others and personal growth. At the TRU Sustainability Office and Kamloops Art Party, I faced challenges with understanding instructions in English but overcame them by stepping out of my comfort zone. This journal shares my journey, from initial struggles to valuable achievements, with advice for other students.
When I started volunteering at the TRU Sustainability Office, I was the only student and felt anxious about my English skills. Despite this, I turned challenges into opportunities to build confidence and improve ability of communication.
A highlight was learning to communicate creatively through rephrasing and gestures, which taught me that effort matters more than perfect language. Asking questions repeatedly also helped me understand tasks and improve my listening.
Overall, the experience allowed me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses in English while discovering new skills.
In conclusion, volunteering is a great way for students to grow and challenge themselves. By embracing challenges, using creative communication methods, and staying persistent, this experience helped me grow personally and left me with valuable lessons. I highly recommend volunteering for its opportunities to learn, try new things, and develop new skills.
Week 1 – My first impressions
Week 2 – Learning on the job
Week 3 – A fun activity with clients]