Volunteering

[Osprey]

I tried tutoring kids a couple of times in college, once or twice a week, can't say I really liked it- even though I was with the same kid for months, never really felt any connection or progress. I wouldn't try that again, personally.

[Golden_Rhino]

I currently volunteer at a high school. I started doing it because I needed volunteer hours for teachers college, but I have since found myself going above and beyond because I love it.

My 'official' duty is to help out in class. That is a ton of fun, but I do that so I can log enough hours to get into teachers college.

I have started an essay help program at the school. Twice a week I am available to proof read essays, help brainstorm ideas, and run workshops. There is no gain for me there, aside from the good feeling I get from helping the kids.

[MicroBob]

I haven't done much volunteering but it's something I seem to always be thinking about.
Either coaching little-league soccer or chess for kids or something. Or even tutoring math or reading.
I seem to have a perpetual mind-set of "I'll definitely get to that at some point" but I just never do.


Just returned from trip to Peru.
My GF and I stayed a few days with her aunt who is a nun at a monestary that runs a gentlemen's nursing-home for those who have nowhere else to go.

10 sisters, most in their 70's, taking care of 270 elderly men. They have some assistants and some volunteers but mostly it's just the sisters.
That's a lot of bathing them, cooking, washing and folding sheets/towels, etc.

Her aunt is 76 and has been doing this kind of work for 50+ years in various countries. Over 10 yrs at this location I think.
I was pretty awe-struck. GF was too and has thoughts of perhaps going back for a month or longer to volunteer.


I have no idea if it's coincidence or not. But her aunt seemed one of the more genuinely content people one could ever hope to meet. Genuinely excited and inspired and proud by the work she was doing.
She also seemed to be in awesome shape for someone her age.
On more than one occasion she would realize she was late for something and would take off in a pretty fast sprint down the hall-way (in the full nun-outfit of course).

I wouldn't be the first to observe that such work truly is good for the soul and the body. And it certainly seemed so in her aunt's case.