Recently, my fellow blogger Wentao Li and I have created a new series called, “What’s up with YVC?” Our first topic of business into the insights of the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) was about the younger demographic (12-14) volunteering. To get further perspective into the issue, I wanted to get to the source. Thus, I found myself this past Thursday at a Starbucks interviewing Taylor Wong. Taylor is a volunteer in Grade 10 who knows just what it was like to be a part of the younger demographic at YVC.
YAA: How did you start your volunteering journey with YVC?
TW: Two years ago, a Youth Central representative came to talk to us at my junior high school. I was into the idea and decided to sign up. My parents always wanted me to get involved, but I was never good at sports and that kind of thing so I thought volunteering would be the perfect opportunity to get myself out of the house and involved in my community. At first I was first really scared to go out and volunteer. So I didn’t really get started until three months after signing up.
YAA: What caused you to overcome this intimidation?
TW: When you are younger, you feel intimidated by the older kids at the projects and it was hard for me because I was very shy. I was overwhelmed as a junior high student back then by all of the “high school” talk—like CAS hours, university applications, extra-curriculars, and etc. As I went to more projects, I realized that not only was I helping myself, but I was helping others. After a while, you start to make friends and realize that there is nothing and no one to be intimidated of. Volunteering takes dedication and that creates a collective feeling among all the volunteers. Once I started to open up more, I felt a part of the group to the point that I didn’t feel the differences between the older kids and myself.
YAA: What do you think could ease younger volunteers into feeling less apprehensive?
TW: It would help if younger and newer volunteers knew that they were going to have other volunteers like themselves at projects. This way, they would know that they were not going to be alone. Maybe, they can volunteer with their friends a few times. But I do not think that volunteers should always volunteer with their friends. This causes exclusion and it prevents interaction among all the volunteers. Volunteering is not only about helping the community, but it is about meeting new people. Volunteers need to get rid of the fact that you always need to go with a friend to a project. Be open with engaging with new people.
YAA: I understand that your favourite volunteering projects are with seniors. Why?
TW: Bowling at Spruce Lodge was my first project. Since then, I have always loved to do manicures (it is a good thing seniors have blurry vision) for the seniors and be a part of their birthday parties. I find that seniors are more appreciative of us because they are usually isolated all day. I love the exchange of stories. Some seniors have a tragic history that not most people know about. A lot of youth volunteers are afraid of seniors because of the typical stereotypes of grumpy seniors in media. But all they want is to meet youth and have someone hear their stories. I have met some great seniors like Betty at Brentwood Bingo. She really gets invested in the game and it is always fun making conversation with her because she is always open with me. When you are volunteering with seniors, the social aspect is really important. Be talkative and sociable. To get my friends interested in volunteering with YVC, I often tell them, “Seniors is where the party’s at.”
YAA: Any last words for the younger volunteers at YVC?
TW: Volunteering is a great experience full of great people. You are put in an environment where you can make friends, but you have to be open to it. Do not be intimidated because everyone has been where you are.
A sincere thanks to Taylor for providing us with an introspective look into the volunteering experience of younger volunteers at YVC. It was a great time getting such an enthusiastic perspective on YVC’s younger demographic.