Volunteerism

[artsfartsyjanet]

Many students volunteer at a young age. So, I thought it would be appropriate for all of you to share your stories and experiences volunteering. Where and when did you volunteer, and what are some of your most memorable experiences?

With the exception of my parent's family restaurant, which i somewhat considered as child labor , I started volunteering as early as 15 years old. I used to be a candy striper in an outpatient surgery department of a nearby hospital where I walked a mile to from my house during the summer. Around 16 or 17, I volunteered at several different places through school... such as a woman's shelter for a day, and about 90+ hours as a candy striper/floater for another hospital. I basically helped patients into their wheelchairs and helped them get into their cars and took the wheel chairs back to where they belong. In college, I volunteered at the Science Center with an asian student organization annually for three years. I also volunteered for a soup kitchen of some sort. I can't remember much about it honestly. Everyone dressed up during halloween to assist the children's holloween party. With a coed service fraternity, i volunteered to put flower bulbs/seeds in bags for a community beautification project and moved furniture from a storage to a woman's shelter. After college, as a group project for work, I helped to collect over 1500 lbs of food-- 1300 more pounds of food than expected for the St. Louis Food Bank. I also walked for a few different causes--- National Kidney Foundation and the National Association for Autism Research (NAAR). I wanted to walk for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer thing, but i decided just to donate. I also donate to the United Way annually. Right now, I'm just volunteering at the St. Louis Science Center working directly with the Vice President of Human Resources and the Manager of Publications updating the front end of their website and finding content for the internal newsletter a couple hours a week. =)

Oh, I guess if you count extracurricular activities (which i really don't but what the hey).... I'll just say i was in the various cultural organizations: Filipino Student Assoc., Indian Asian Student Assoc., A.S.I.A. which i served as president for 3 yrs, Sexual Assault Peer Educator for 2 years, and a student on the Career Advisory Board for Career Services. Lastly, I interned and volunteered at an agency that receives calls nationally for various issues from suicide, child abuse, to domestic violence.

I just need a job now. someone take me. =) *sniffles*