Stay tuned for more articles where we interview Youth Central alumni as part of our alumni spotlight!
Since graduating from Youth Central, Gurmol has taken a path that reflects curiosity, exploration, and community impact. What began as a high school student volunteering while preparing for medical school eventually evolved into a career in technology, data, and education. Today, Gurmol works as a data developer, consultant, and educator, applying many of the teamwork, communication, and leadership skills he first developed through volunteering.
When Gurmol first joined Youth Central, he was a high school student enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and focused heavily on academics. At the time, he believed his future would lead him to medical school. However, he also wanted to become more involved in the community. Through Youth Central’s Youth Volunteer Corps, he began spending his weekends helping at festivals, events, and community organizations around Calgary—including volunteering at the Calgary Zoo. What started as a way to gain volunteer experience quickly became a meaningful introduction to community engagement.
Through these experiences, Gurmol met peers from different schools and backgrounds and learned the value of collaboration, adaptability, and mentorship. Watching youth leaders—many of whom were university students—coordinate projects and support volunteers showed him what leadership could look like and inspired him to grow into similar roles.
Undoubtedly, Gurmol’s experience with Youth Central helped shape his mindset about growth, community, and career exploration. He explains more below:
What is his favourite Youth Central memory?
One moment that stayed with Gurmol was volunteering at a large community festival. He remembers watching youth leaders manage the event with calmness, confidence, and kindness despite the busy and sometimes chaotic environment. Seeing young people only a few years older than him leading teams, solving problems, and supporting the community made him realize what was possible. It shifted his mindset from simply helping out to believing he could grow into a leader himself.
How did he become involved with Youth Central?
At the time, Gurmol was a high school student balancing Advanced Placement classes while preparing for what he thought would be a future in medical school. He wanted to gain volunteer experience and meet other young people who were driven and community-minded. He joined the Youth Volunteer Corps and began volunteering regularly on weekends at events and festivals across Calgary.
What is his biggest takeaway from your time volunteering with Youth Central?
Before volunteering, Gurmol was primarily focused on school and academic achievement. Youth Central introduced him to a diverse community of peers and mentors that helped him become more outgoing and confident. The experience taught him that building relationships and collaborating with others can be just as important as academic success.
What is one piece of advice he has for current Youth Central volunteers?
“Say yes to opportunities, even the ones that feel a little intimidating,” Gurmol says. “Youth Central is one of the best places to experiment, grow, and discover what you’re capable of. Don’t worry about having everything figured out—focus on learning, connecting with others, and enjoying the experience.”
Gurmol’s journey reflects this advice. While he initially joined Youth Central to gain volunteer hours and strengthen his future medical school applications, the experience opened his mind to many new possibilities.
How did his experience with Youth Central shape his future?
Through Youth Central, Gurmol developed skills that he still uses every day, including communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership through service. Volunteering taught him how to work with diverse groups, adjust when plans change, and support others in meaningful ways.
Most importantly, Youth Central helped him realize that career paths are not always linear. While he once believed he would follow a strict path toward medicine, volunteering helped him discover a passion for solving problems, collaborating with people, and contributing to communities in different ways. This mindset later made it easier for him to pivot into technology, data science, and education.
As a final reflection, Gurmol encourages young people to remain open to exploration and change. He believes every experience contributes to personal growth, and that curiosity, courage, and community are powerful forces that shape where our journeys ultimately lead.