As I have been volunteering, I have found that with the specific project I am working on I find myself slowly loosing my natural attacking nature to be aggressive to get things done and to be a go getter. I was recently talking to another volunteer who also was a go getter, and as we discussed out frustrations with our current situation. I don’t think it is common with all projects; we are currently with an organization who wanted to get these projects done, so they applied for grants, which we satisfy. They are not necessarily for a full 12 months worth of work, but as we have come to find, much of what we can do depends on everyone we work with, who are VERY busy and probably find us volunteers as a nuisance most of the time. Just for the time we have to wait, the stuff we get to deal with, it almost wears us down, you feel that you are loosing your aggressive nature to become more successful, promote, prove yourself, and feel that you are accomplishing something.
I think it is great, the projects that we are working on, they are to better the lives of people who are affected by the current economic situation, but I do think that the department as a whole was not ready for us to come on board, and why would they, because they too have such a heavy workload to deal with to help the people and customers who are here for their help.
I have hit my six month mark, I am half way done. I hope to finish out the project, because I don’t want to leave anything undone. Plus, it would look great to finish and have my finished product to show off once it is implemented state wide. Although I have many struggles, and am on the prowl for a career, I just need to find a new opportunity to volunteer to feel satisfied in what I am doing. Plus, I can get experience in teaching/training from volunteering, probably not enough that is needed for what I want to do, but enough to help me lead into new directions and make contacts.
So I need ideas of where to possibly look to volunteer my time in the evening’s to gain more experience in teaching, training, developing training materials….. do you have any suggestions?
Cheers for now!
