[nabs-l] volunteering

Mon Dec 2 22:36:02 UTC 2013

These are all grate ideas.
After looking at my schools course guide, it does not appear that this type
of senior project is listed. However, I may see if I could do it as some
sort of independent study for credit. 
I will also contact the red cross in my area, probably the volunteer
coordinator if there is one to see if this is an option, along with perhaps
some hospitals, since I liked that idea. 
I will also look at websites such as volunteer match to see if I can find
anything there.
Thanks everyone

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Silveira
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 3:05 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] volunteering

Hi Lilly,

All these ideas are great.  I would definitely pursue the job shadowing idea
if you can.  As has already been pointed out, you may be a little limitted
in what you can do because of the confidentiality involved in your
particular career fields.  Another suggestion I would offer is that you look
into whether your high school has a senior project program.  Some do, some
don't.  Basically, the senior project is a course, either elective or
required, in which you create a project, usually something that services the
community and which is focused on your chosen career field.  You usually
have a mentor who will help you and guide you toward your project goal.  For
example, when I was a senior, I learned how to conduct and then conducted my
high school choir.  Again, confidentiality could come into serious play for
you in your career fields, but it's something to look into.
If you want to know more, feel free to e-mail me off-list.  You might also
look into your local red-cross.  They always welcome vollunteers, especially
young people who want to go into counseling or nursing.  I hope this helps.

On 12/1/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've found the best way to look for opportunities is to just go out 
> and find them.  Listen to what others are doing around you.  If 
> someone wins a scholarship from a local thing in your area and there 
> is a bio that says, "He volunteers at place X doing work with the 
> Elderly, and place Y helping the homeless," and those things sound 
> appealing to you, call the locations and see if they could use the 
> extra set of hands.  I've found the name of the game in volunteering 
> is just making yourself known and available to the agencies because 
> otherwise they won't always be actively looking for volunteers.
>
> In my experiences, it is rare that someone else will put you in touch 
> with an opportunity.  I've only had that happen to me once, and I 
> don't expect that to happen again since it was just fortunate 
> circumstance.  If you can find an email on a web site, try that first 
> as people check email much more quickly than phone these days.  If you 
> need to try calling do it.  If they want an in-person interview, 
> arrange it as best you can.  (I did that for one of my volunteer jobs 
> and it was really beneficial.  I got to know the staff in advance, 
> learn the layout of the building, and they got a sense of how I could 
> fit into the agency and how they could use my help.  If this is what 
> they ask for, do your best to make it work.
>
> Try volunteering with psychologists.  Some will offer that to high 
> school students interested in the field.  In my experiences doing work 
> that was confidential, you may need to sign a form stating that you 
> won't reveal personal information about clients, but it's nothing that 
> will keep you from working with the agency.  Try to see if you can 
> work at a hospital of some sort.  That would have endless 
> opportunities for networking with different people and different age 
> groups.  Schools are great too.  In my senior year I got to job shadow 
> a speech pathologist, even though I was in a teaching program.  Try to 
> tie things in from interdisciplinary fields whenever possible.  I 
> think all the suggestions given sound great, but I will send more if I 
> think of them.
>
> On 12/1/13, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
>> This raises a good question. How does one go about finding the 
>> opportunities?
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Nov 29, 2013, at 3:09 PM, Rebecca Sabo <beckyasabo at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi
>>> How do you get involved to fine volunteer positions ?  I have my AA 
>>> degree in Human Services.  I am working toward my BA in human 
>>> services.  I am looking for work or volunteer in the field of human 
>>> service.  I need more work experience on my resume.
>>> Becky
>>>> On Nov 28, 2013, at 1:33 PM, Arielle Silverman 
>>>> <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi illie,
>>>>
>>>> I volunteered for a teen crisis hotline when I was in high school. 
>>>> It would be a great way to learn what it is like to counsel people 
>>>> dealing with serious life challenges and to see if this is 
>>>> something you enjoy and feel comfortable with. You could also 
>>>> volunteer for a Hospice or other facility that involves nursing 
>>>> care. Some of these kinds of programs may have job shadow or summer 
>>>> intern opportunities for teens. Good luck!
>>>> Arielle
>>>>
>>>>> On 11/27/13, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
>>>>> Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will begin looking into some 
>>>>> nonprofits around here and talking to some people as to what I 
>>>>> could do. Again, thanks for all the help.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Nov 27, 2013, at 10:41 PM, "Ashley Bramlett"
>>>>>> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Lillie,
>>>>>> I suggest you job shadow some people in these fields. Also 
>>>>>> conduct informational interviews which basically means you 
>>>>>> interview someone in the field about their job; ask how they got 
>>>>>> there, what skills they use, what typical duties are like, and 
>>>>>> what they like and dislike about the job.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Its smart of you to research careers because so many people just 
>>>>>> take jobs they don't like or they go to higher education and 
>>>>>> study a lot. After studying and obtaining a degree, they get jobs 
>>>>>> and find out they hate the field.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Preparing early will help you get a good career and a happy one too.
>>>>>> To volunteer, look at nonprofits.
>>
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>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
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--
Ryan L. Silveira

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