High school is a chaotic time for many as they try to juggle academics along with other extra curricular activities. Balancing all these activities rarely leaves time for other things such as volunteering. However despite the lack of time there are some students at Carlmont who selflessly give back to the community.
For instance, Andrew Wach, a member of Belmont’s Volunteer Outreach in Community Events and Services (VOICES) of four years, believes that it’s “important to give back to the area you live in because it’s your home and the people you are helping are your neighbors.”
“We provide community services in the Belmont area, like organizing the Father/ Daughter dance in Twin Pines Park. We also go to San Francisco to feed the homeless and just doing stuff that helps out,” said Wach.
For some, volunteering is an incentive to look good and stand out in the competitive world of college applications rather than self-motivation. For others, no matter how big or small their act is, they simply give back in hopes to change the world for the better.
Cailan Cumming, a sophomore and active member in her community said, “I want to change the world to make it a better place. I feel like my time should be used to help others because it gives me personal satisfaction and it is a big part of who I am.”
“I volunteer at this place called City Impact in San Francisco. They help to serve people in the Tenderloin by giving out meals and providing a place for them to hang out,” said Cumming.
There are a variety of different local programs and places that are seeking help from volunteers like Second Harvest Food Bank, Healthy Cities Tutoring, Belmont 4-H, Sunrise Assisted Living, Belmont Library, etc.
“It’s important to find something you’re passionate about and enjoy. If there isn’t something specifically set up for what you like or are looking for, make it your own. Get out there and get inspired. Take it upon yourself to change a community,” said Cassandra Black, a librarian at the Belmont Library in charge of VOICES.
Sometimes it is the smallest decisions that can change the outlook one has on the world and want to take action.
Interact President Scott Harris initially had not put much thought into volunteering, but once he joined Interact during his freshman year, he was hooked. “My friends actually got me to join Interact during freshman year. Once I started attending the meetings and getting involved, I didn’t want to stop.”
The gratitude expressed from others keeps Harris motivated when he volunteers. “It always motivates me to continue to help out when I can tell the person really appreciates my efforts. Their smile is what keeps me motivated,” said Harris.
Passion can also be used as a motivator for some to make a change in their community and the lives of others.
“When you find something you’re passionate about, those skills you learn through volunteering can translate into useful skills for a job in the future. It can help make you a better well-rounded and empathetic person. Volunteering is very important and is one of the most impactful ways to make a change,” said Black.
Ordinary and everyday people are helping to positively reshape the world around them by simply volunteering. Anyone can make a change, but it takes someone who is willing to recognize the problems around them and take action to fix it.
“Why you should volunteer should never be a question or seen as a rare thing. It should be a normal, everyday thing that everyone does. We are all human and we all need each other. Volunteering is a great opportunity to hear peoples’ stories, learn from others, share a smile, and give back,” said Sinead Cunningham, the head of Belmont’s Park and Recreation Youth and Teen Services.
Many organizations rely on the work of volunteers to continue to run. These volunteers’ efforts in the community may sometimes go unnoticed by others, but that does not change the fact that they forever change the lives of those that they help.
