I volunteered at the Bergen County Volunteer Center to work with students between the ages of 13-15 and help them become more involved in community service. On Tuesday, November 8th, I met with Debbie Emory, the project advisor, to find out more about my role in the project. She informed me that I would be working alongside her on Thursday and Friday of that same week to run a program for students to raise awareness of how they can personally become more involved in helping their communities.
Thirteen students arrived at 8:00 am on Thursday morning, most of them being strangers to each other. We started the day with icebreakers and they were soon comfortable around each other. They worked on projects during the day that included planning out survival skills, crossing a life sized maze, and constructing a building out of straws and masking tape. On Friday, the kids walked in with more excited attitudes, eager to find out their new projects. This day, we focused more on community mapping. They had to do more group work, and created a nonprofit organization, learning all the detail and hard work that goes into establishing one.
The students weren't the only ones that had a good experience. I enjoyed working with Debbie and all the students at the Volunteer Center. I learned a lot about diversity, cooperation, and management. Most importantly, this experience taught me the value of working with others. I was able to see the importance of group work as the students thought of their best ideas while working together. My experience at the Bergen Volunteer Center was truely unforgettable.
