When I was asked to share my experience as volunteer in GS, I started to count the years. This year is my 5th year working as volunteer tutor in GS. However, it’s only my first orientation last Saturday. Hehe! Although I have attended many events before, it’s the first time such orientation for volunteers was being held. Not many had come though but good enough to start off the first step.
Volunteers in GS are divided into few groups: academic/tutors, counsellor, home visit and school visit. The biggest group of volunteers, of course, is the academic/tutors group. In this big group, it’s further divided into different subjects. Unfortunately, I’m the only one in the Malay subject group. Many tutors are in the English subject and a few are in the Maths subject. Many I have met before during events and some I have known for years as long as I have been a volunteer. There’s also a new volunteer who tutors Account and hopefully another volunteer would join soon, I heard. The most wonderful was my first ever student was sitting next to me, joining us as volunteer as a way for her to give back to the home that she lived for years before finishing SPM. Hehe!
The purpose of this orientation was to get to know each other more and share experience. It’s going to be more like a support group for each other. I think it’s a great idea. We shouldn’t work alone on our own. We should work together to achieve better results with the girls. The best thing about this orientation was I got to meet the volunteers that pay home and school visits. Their experiences really gave me the sight on the other side of the coin. These volunteers share their experience of what they saw during home visits to the girls’ families. Some stories were so sad that make me feel grateful for the life I have so far.
I just feel that my decision 5 years ago to become a volunteer was the right one. I have never regretted my first step. Of course, it took me a lot of efforts to help in whatever way I can. However, I’m truly glad that I have at least made some difference, no matter how small, in someone’s life. Especially when that someone turns to you one day and tells you that she’s thankful for the help and time spent all these years. That’s what keeping me forward…
