We've heard about research, we've heard about school... what about volunteering? Some U of C students share their insights on volunteering and its value.
MILAN
Hello, my name is Milan and I am a second year Biomedical Sciences student who has a passion for community involvement. To say that this past year has been strange and difficult is definitely an understatement. It has left many communities strained, and has been even harder for our vulnerable populations. Seeing all of this, I wanted to do more to help and got in contact with the Calgary Seniors Resource Society. This organization offers a variety of services and supports to seniors in-need throughout Calgary, and has allowed me to lend a hand to the community in an especially challenging time. As a volunteer, I have been involved in activities such as grocery shopping for seniors, writing mail, helping with yard work, and offering weekly phone support. The organization allows you to take on as much or as little as you can, which has been great for accommodating a busy school schedule. I began volunteering with the Calgary Seniors Resource Society last April, and have continued to work with them to the present day. I feel so happy to know that I am able to do something positive for the community, and I have been able to create lasting connections with some of our city’s seniors!
GISELLE
When I was in high school, I started volunteering for the Reading Buddies program, where my main role was to foster literacy in young children. Now that I’m in my final year of undergraduate studies, I’m a student tutor for Golden Mti, which is a free, volunteer tutoring organization for BIPOC individuals and minorities in the Calgary area. Golden Mti was launched during the summer of 2020, and provides free tutoring and mentoring services for students. Twice a week, I meet with a student and help them with their coursework, usually combining my love of games with their classwork to keep my sessions engaging. For me, this involves setting up digital jeopardy boards, coming up with my own math problems, and editing my own memes so that a concept is easier to understand. I look forward to these regular meetings with my students, watching their progress in school, and witnessing the moment all of the pieces click into place is easily the most rewarding experience I can name.
Additionally, part of my job as a tutor is to help families navigate the confusing streams of the Alberta Education system. If you completed high school in Alberta, you’re probably familiar with what I’m talking about. The system that Alberta high schools use split classes by “levels”, with “-1” levels being the standard, and “-3” offering a delivery of the course with a reduced workload. Many post-secondary institutions set their admissions processes at a minimum requirement of “-1” in grade 12 courses in order to apply. BIPOC students, often children of first generation immigrants, can be put into -2 or -3 streamed courses by high school guidance counsellors without being told the implications of how this will affect their chances of applying to universities. Students and parents who don’t know any better are potentially held back and require upgrading their courses to enter university, which is exhausting, expensive, and makes students feel like they don’t deserve to follow through with higher education. As a tutor, I make sure that the students and families are informed of the possibilities their futures hold, and I help them to realize the potential they have.
Fundamentally, I keep coming back to tutoring because it’s a great way for me to make a personal connection with an individual, and because I love to make learning fun. I’ve built a great relationship to the student who I regularly mentor. She’s always focused, and we have so much fun playing games and sharing ideas that she looks forward to coming back each week. She’s not afraid to ask questions, and I match her energy to give her the best learning experience that I can offer. I’ve made some friends among the other tutors as well. Given that we all share common ground as university students, we can always find something to talk about. I’ll never finish learning how to be a better ally, but hopefully, like my students, I’ll always have the potential to do better.
Have a great volunteering story? Reach out to us to share!
ig: @sims_ucalgary
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