Part Two of Three

In November 2018 I started volunteering, I’d been thinking about doing it for several months but couldn’t decide where, there are so many excellent causes. Finally I decided to join a very reputable organization that puts volunteers in elementary schools to tutor children who are behind in their reading. I love to read and firmly believe that if you can’t read, or can’t read properly, it will delay every aspect of your life.

I told myself it was my way to ‘give back’, that my motives were purely altruistic, that it was all about helping the children…..turns out I was lying… to myself.

Over the last few months I’ve become disenchanted with the activity. Not the actual helping the kids, that is awesome, but being at the school. More times than not I am in and out of the building without exchanging more than “good morning” with the office staff, the teacher or any other adult.

I’m counting the days until it’s over because it turns out I wasn’t really looking for a way to ‘give back’, my motivation wasn’t purely altruistic. What I wanted was a community, to be part of a team, sharing and collaborating.

I was looking for what I lost in November 2017.  (click here for the backstory)

Strategic volunteering can be a great way to rebuild your community, to create a new sense of belonging and accomplishment when you are unemployed. I’m not discouraged, I’ll keep looking and just do better research on the culture of the next organization I choose.

Check back next week for Part Three….