The Story of How I Lead My Volunteer Group to 1809 Hours

I was thirteen when I first wanted to volunteer. Unfortunately, local libraries or animal shelters often had an age requirement. But I was determined and discovered Lion’s Heart, an organization that connects teens with volunteer opportunities. I noticed that there were no groups in the Inland Empire and decided to start my own. 

At first, it was challenging to find members. Most of my friends thought volunteering was boring, so I started with just my cousin and best friend. My first meeting as President, I learned and applied “Robert’s Rules”, which helped us stay productive and on track. Our first project was creating kindness cards for senior home residents. I learned how to coordinate service projects– researching organizations, contacting directors, and finding supplies.

To recruit new members, I asked each volunteer to recruit one friend to the group. As we grew to eight members, I had to learn to foster friendships and inspire strangers. I asked my local dentist’s office to borrow office space, where I hosted bi-weekly meetings. Each week, I asked members to bring a cause or organization they believed in. Together, we would vote on which project to support that month. I would research, schedule, and introduce our group to organization leaders. To stay organized, I created a master calendar of all our events, tracking RSVPs and transportation. It was a challenge to strike a balance between being an effective leader while remaining a friend. But because they were friends, I could step into their shoes, which helped me evaluate and improve my leadership style. 

One time, we volunteered at a Special Olympics bocce ball event for people with disabilities. At first, we stood awkwardly to the side, unfamiliar with the game. Suddenly, I started cheering on the players, asking my group members to follow my lead, creating an encouraging atmosphere. I then found an employee and learned the game. I taught the other members the basic instructions, rules, and how to scorekeep, before we all split up to facilitate our own courts. I learned taking initiative is important in guiding teams to adapt to new environments.