Volunteering to become a better person

By volunteering challenge participant Isabella Pingitore

I selected this unit because, from a young age, I have always loved helping people. Whether it be something as simple as helping people pick up the coins that they had dropped on the supermarket floor, doing odd jobs around my grandparent’s house and even taking care of my little cousins at family events, I realised that I enjoyed helping people. Even today, I help my parents out with their small business, going to markets, helping make products to sell or anything else that they need a hand with.  

I selected this unit because I feel that volunteering in the community will give me more insight into the career path I want to take in the future. I have my heart set on volunteering at an aged care facility due to it being the place where I would like to work when I am older. At the same time, I like the idea of volunteering at a local neighbourhood house or school because it is a great way to connect to my community. I feel as if all of these possible placements will give me an opportunity to socialise with other people and step outside my comfort zone.

I heard that the volunteering unit is fun and insightful, and will give me a better understanding of the benefits of volunteering, and the variety of ways I can help people out in the real world. I also heard it gives you an understanding of different ways I can support our amazing community.

This elective is different to the others offered to Year 9 and 10 students because it gives you more control with your learning and is more hands-on and physical than most electives and mainstream classes. It can teach you valuable life lessons whereas some other electives are more text book based. 

People volunteer for various reasons that can range from gaining personal experiences, skills development to socialisation and realising a desire to make a positive impact in the community. Some people choose to volunteer to give back to one or many organisations that have impacted their lives or to help others in need. Volunteering can also provide an opportunity to develop new skills, knowledge, and workplace skills to enhance one’s CV and employment prospects. For some, volunteering offers opportunities to participate in exciting projects. Additionally, volunteering can have positive impacts on health and well-being. In conclusion, people volunteer for a combination of personal, social and altruistic reasons and find it to be both challenging and rewarding.

Though I have had an interest in volunteering, I have never had a chance to become involved. Now, I will have the support to take the practical steps to do something that I have loved doing since I was very young. 

This elective sounded perfect for me and I believe the experience will make me a better person.