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“Volunteering is like a soul-searching opportunity…. It helps
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Oakland Action Team Captains Trinh (left) and Tuyet (right) Tran |
I volunteer because …
Trinh: “Morally, helping others in their time of need is the only right thing to do. People constantly bemoan the fact that so many are struggling to survive each day, with insufficient food to satisfy their hunger and inadequate clothes to keep them comfortable. It does no good to sit around and complain. Rather, we should be taking action and helping in any way we can. Even a small action, such as handing out books, helps because [they go to] children [in families who] … wouldn’t be able to afford those books. Actions speak louder than words.”
Tuyet: “As a human being, I feel compelled to help out those in need. There is so much that we take for granted…. I want to give back as much as I [receive], and volunteering is one of the best [ways]. To hear, to see, to experience ... all of this is possible through volunteering. I can hear the woes [of people in need], see their struggles, and now experience the satisfaction of being of some help.”
I joined the Action Team because…
Trinh: “It allows me to [work toward] the type of changes I would like to see in our community and make a difference. I like the fact that a key feature of the Action Team is team effort. Instead of volunteering alone…members of the Action Team work together, sharpening our teamwork ethics. Also, the Action Team gives us the opportunity to meet other people who have the same goals and ideals.”
Tuyet: “It is something different, away from the usual volunteer service at the library or the hospital with a friend…. I relish the feeling of being a part of something big … knowing that there are others like me out there, doing the same thing as I am doing. Through this program, I can learn to step up my leadership skills and take the initiative to plan projects.”
How volunteering with the Action Team benefits me …
Trinh: “Just knowing that I took action and actually tried to help those around me gives me the feeling of usefulness and achievement. I would be sitting idly at home during the weekends if it weren’t for the Action Team. I can now proudly say that I took action and tried to make a difference in our community. Also, it helps me grow into a more mature person who can think about things beneficial to the community as a whole, instead of just my own personal happiness.”
Tuyet: “The heart, time, and effort I put into volunteering with the Action Team benefits me by giving me the feeling of accomplishment and usefulness. I can think about helping people all I want, but when it comes down to it, if I didn’t take the initiative to join the team, I might still be at home, lazing around. The experience that I’ve attained through this program has helped me grow into a better person. I no longer wait for someone to hand me a volunteer opportunity; I now adamantly seek it.”
How I benefit my community as an Action Team Captain and volunteer …
Trinh: “I can encourage others to join me in the volunteer work, and as a team captain, I can set up projects that would benefit our community.”
Tuyet: “I believe that by being a volunteer and an active Action Team Captain, I can reassure the inhabitants of my community that, yes, there are people out there who are willing to help change this flawed and problematic world; that there is hope….”
As an Action Team Captain, what I tell other teens to encourage them to volunteer …
Trinh: “I tell them that volunteering is not only beneficial to our society, it’s also inspirational. Seeing all those people who don’t have nearly as much as we do makes us appreciate everything more….Volunteering helps us find the compassion that’s inside each and every one of us.”
Tuyet: “Well, in general, those that I know get the gist of how significant volunteering is to our society. But, if I were to encounter one who needed reminding, I would explain that volunteering is like a soul-searching opportunity; you can open your eyes to reality and find that compassion inside of you that yearns to help those in need. Not only are you helping others, you’re helping yourself form new bonds and extend your friendships to those outside your social circle.”
Favorite volunteer activity ...
Trinh: “It would have to be a holiday party [for sick children]... I helped the children make their own bracelets and necklaces and felt especially useful when they looked up at me with a big smile and enthusiastically said, ‘Thank you.’ Feelings of accomplishment vary with each person, and being able to put a smile on children’s faces is a big accomplishment to me.”
Tuyet: “When I sat beside a little girl helping her make a necklace, there was a moment when I thought, ‘Wow,’ when she so happily thanked me for the necklace. I felt a [sense] of peace to be a part of the girl’s life, laughter, and appreciation, even for just a moment.”
My volunteer goals for this school year …
Trinh and Tuyet: “To participate in as much volunteer work as possible; to get more teens to become volunteers; to throw a successful charity event that will help raise money for the needy.”
What’s in my iPod …
Trinh and Tuyet: “A variety of music... from pop to r & b to alternative to hip-hop, rap, and rock. And aside from American music, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese music.”
Favorite baseball player...
Trinh and Tuyet: “The Oakland Action Team players – Andrew Brown, Eric Chavez, and Huston Street.”