This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Northeastern chapter.
For the past four years, I have wanted to fall into the role of “dedicated college volunteer.”
I receive detailed, monthly newsletter e-mails from Northeastern’s Center of Community Service, jam-packed with information about alternative spring break trips, service-learning, teaching assistant opportunities, one-day volunteer positions and on-going community service commitments. I usually read most of the e-mails, anticipating my involvement with a community service event or volunteer position.
Each time, though, I close the e-mail and remain inactive about my wish to help out the Boston community. But then I remember that I am a journalism student writing about issues and events that (hopefully) produce some form of change in the area. Isn’t that enough?
It’s not, for me at least. Whether it was raking leaves outside the homes of people unable to endure physical labor, or singing Christmas carols with members of the Best Buddies program at the local nursing home, I was a proactive volunteer in high school and in my hometown.
There was Circle K International at Northeastern for a few months freshman year. There was the National Society of Collegiate Scholars beginning my sophomore year, which provided opportunities for members to participate in volunteer work. And there was the Outreach Project for Northeastern’s Honors Program throughout my college career. But with my commitments in other student organizations, schoolwork and co-op responsibilities, I never fully jumped on board with a community service group. But, for my sake and yours, I will stop making excuses.
Thankfully, an opportunity arose three weeks ago that has allowed me to finally fulfill my desire to be a volunteer as a college student before I graduate in May. This semester I will be an editorial mentor for the teen editors of “Teen Voices,” an alternative Boston-based print magazine by, for and about teenage girls (tagline: “Changing the world for girls through media”). As I learned during a nine-hour orientation session last weekend, my job will be to assist two to four girls through the editorial process with a collaborative 2,000- to 3,000-word article (which will hopefully be published in the winter issue of the magazine). Twice each week from October until mid-December, I will meet with the girls for two hours, brainstorming, researching, interviewing and meeting deadlines set by the magazine’s staff.
Like many teenage girls elsewhere, the Boston teen editors who are hired to participate in the production of the magazine deal with serious issues at home and in their communities. Part of the employers’ and volunteers’ goals at “Teen Voices” is to provide a safe space for the girls to talk – with both supportive adults and peers – so they can feel validated.
Staff members will meet with the girls this week to learn about their personalities and experiences. Then they will assign each mentor a small group of girls. I won’t meet the girls for another week, but I am thrilled to partake in the organization’s mission to support and educate teen girls about the possibility of social change through media.
The best part? Combining my passion for writing and helping out in the community. I can’t wait to befriend my mentees. Finally, I found the ideal volunteer position that I have been waiting for throughout my entire college career. All it takes is a goal and persistence. Something will always come along.
Nine of the 13 editorial mentors for the fall 2011 semester. That’s me in the center of the front row.