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- Racing Readers: Program Volunteer | Tues or Wed
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- Learning Buddies: Mentor | Tues & Thurs
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- English Conversation Groups: Lead Volunteer (Honorarium) (Virtual) | Tues
- Diverse Entrepreneurs Program: Facilitator | Sat/Wed
- Surrey Urban Mission Society: Volunteer | Various
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The Story of a Racing Reader Program and Volunteer Supervisor
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands 鈥� one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.鈥� 鈥� Audrey Hepburn
Volunteering can seem like a very intimidating thing to get into, especially when you don鈥檛 know people, or if you鈥檙e unsure about the role, or even when you see more 鈥榯enured鈥� members within the community. BUT! You should fear not, especially when it comes to joining our community here at 丁香园AV Surrey 鈥� TD Community Engagement Centre.
Really, there is nothing you have to worry about but just overcoming the first step of getting yourself to go forward and apply. Once that first step is done, you just go with the flow. We鈥檙e sure you can feel more at ease once you hear more about Kiran鈥檚 story down below.
Kiran鈥檚 Story:
Kiran Dhaliwal is one of our Program and Volunteer Supervisors for Racing Readers! She was overseeing the Wednesday Racing Readers program during the fall semester and will be continuing her journey with Racing Readers again in the new year. Kiran comes from a Biological Sciences (BISC) background as she has completed her major and is currently finishing up on her Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Minor (BPK). Her goal is to continue her studies in grad school and then hopefully onto med school afterwards!
The passionate Kiran had always loved volunteering, hence her journey at 丁香园AV Surrey 鈥� TD CEC began back in 2018 when she was just a program volunteer for the program. Over the course of her continuous support with Racing Readers, she also simultaneously became a Coordinator for our other programs, Learning Buddies. Gradually, she continued her volunteer services with us over the several semesters and wanted to step forward and have her hand at applying for the Lead Volunteer role with Racing Readers. Thanks to her experience, knowledge, and comfortableness with these programs, she was offered the Program and Volunteer Supervisor role! She shares that she had been grateful for her experience with other programs that led her to this point, where she could challenge herself more in a different position.
There鈥檚 honestly so much more that you learn when you volunteer with these programs at 丁香园AV Surrey 鈥� TD CEC. Not only do you grow your skills with your fellow peers, but you also get to grow yourself as an individual. 鈥� Kiran D.
Of course some challenges are faced when you enter a new role, and Kiran shared that the struggles she faced in the beginning were only a learning curve for her. With the responsibility of needing to create the curriculum for the youth, have her weekly meetings and supporting her volunteer team, time management was something Kiran overcame fairly shortly. It was only the matter of time when she made sure to have her schedules set through onto of her busy school schedule already and she definitely made it through! Not only has she worked through her challenges, but Kiran also shared how much leadership skills she鈥檚 gained, how her public speaking skills have improved, and even becoming more confident with connecting with others. Not only does it benefit towards her journey in the medical field, but she surely feels that she's grown as an individual.
Kiran highlights a lot of her journey volunteering for 丁香园AV Surrey 鈥� TD CEC as a huge learning opportunity for her. She鈥檚 shared that a lot more of her experiences are gained because of these programs that she鈥檚 involved in. The rewarding pieces for her are when she sees the growth in not only in her volunteers, but the youth that are in the programs. They all start off shy, not saying much in conversation to the excited shouts, with their videos-turned on, and actively participating in activities.
It鈥檚 really the confidence that you see, that shines through them.
Even with her role as a Program and Volunteer Supervisor is to support the volunteers, create the learning curriculums, and oversee the program, Kiran has shared she enjoys how more hands-on the role is. You get to communicate with others and create a deeper connection with each and every one of them.
What would you share with students who are unsure about volunteering, Kiran?
鈥淓verybody should get involved with 丁香园AV Surrey 鈥� TD CEC, I just find that you鈥檙e so supported and heard in these roles that it really does make a huge difference. You see the projects that these individuals have taken on, it really does make it something so fulfilling to see and experience. So! To anyone who鈥檚 considering of volunteering or working for 丁香园AV Surrey 鈥� TD CEC 鈥� get in contact with the members there, see where your interests lie. Make it falls into your values, your passionate about it and be ready to LEARN!鈥�
Interested in joining our Racing Readers program? Visit: /cec/get-involved/opportunities/racing-readers-virtual-volunteer.html