Tony Harb is a teenager. He also is a fireman. He fights fires, participates in drills and teaches fire prevention in his community.
But he doesn't receive a paycheck for this work. He volunteers. Student volunteerism is on the rise, according to Zenda Bennett, Volunteer Personnel Specialist at the Greater Rochester Red Cross.
"A lot of it has to do with the community service requirement at many schools," says Bennett. She adds that guidance counselors also encourage students to volunteer as a way to explore career paths, "especially if they're unsure of which direction they want to go."
Students who volunteer are likely to continue volunteering. They find that even without a paycheck, volunteering offers many benefits. "They get a chance to learn new skills.
They get career experience, find out about jobs, and meet mentors. Then there's the social aspect - they get a chance to interact with other people," says Bennett. And volunteering can be fun when they choose work they enjoy.
HEADSTART
Harb is grateful for the opportunity to work at Kenilworth Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 in his hometown of Tonawanda.
"I'm only 16, and it's unbelievable that I'm able to do it. At some fire stations you have to be 18 or 21," says Harb. He knows he's performing an important job.
"When you see someone's house burning down and you see them out there, you want to help them as much as possible," says Harb, whose grandfather was also a fireman.
The work Harb does now will help him to earn a degree in fire science. "I've got a good headstart," says Harb. "I'll get college credit for the courses I'm taking (in fire-fighting and first aid)."
He's also eligible for scholarships because he is a fireman. The fire station has even started a retirement fund for him.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Hannalore Burns discovered a fun volunteer job through the Student Volunteer Directory published by the Greater Rochester Red Cross. Of the dozens of positions listed, Burns chose to be a puppeteer for KIDS Project.
"It's a program for third graders," says Burns. "We do skits about what it's like to have a disability. And afterwards we have a question and answer period. The kids talk directly to the puppets."
The project is designed to help children understand disabilities and relate to people who are disabled. Burns knows the children are getting the message.
"One time we did a skit with a puppet who has cerebral palsy and can't talk well," Burns recalls. "One boy raised his hand afterwards. He had a lisp. He said, 'Just because people have trouble speaking doesn't mean they're disabled. Everyone talks differently.'"
Moments like those show Burns that she really is making a difference. "It makes you feel good," she says.
EXPERIENCE
Sarah Gardner spends her mornings with the kindergarten class at West Carthage Elementary School. As she aspires to be a teacher, Gardner is gaining valuable experience through this internship.
Gardner reads stories, does the daily calendar and works with the children individually. Sometimes she has the opportunity to do even more.
"One of the things I did was make a lesson plan. I wrote a little ditty to help the children learn the letter of the week," Gardner says. "Then I had them cut out an animal that started with the letter. And we read a story." Gardner is also helping to motivate and discipline the children using a reward system on the bulletin board. While teaching, she's also learning.
"I've learned that teaching is everything I expected it to be and more," says Gardner. Her ambition is to make a positive impact on the lives of children. She is already making progress.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
Thousands of organizations offer volunteer opportunities to youths. The various job descriptions include web page designer, nursing home manicurist, and fund-raiser for a politician.
Everyone has different interests, and different reasons for volunteering. All it takes is looking around for the right job; one that matches the individual's needs to the needs of an organization.
And when that happens, the rewards are endless. Besides feeling good about helping others (the big-gest reward), and making wonderful friends and contacts, you can also just happen to gain valuable job ex-perience for that future resume!
