From The Heart
Lately, I have been in this particular mindset. I am happy with my job. I enjoy it immensely. But I want to do more. I want to do something for the community, or at least be more of an asset to a non-profit organization. I guess it's the politically motivated person in me. I've always wanted to be extremely busy trying to save the world. I guess it's the egotist in me.
So, because of this inspiration of trying to save the world, I decided to try volunteer on the weekends. Hell, I haven't filled that time up, might as well! I. Must.Be.Busy.At.All.Hours.Of.The.Week. So, venturing into craigslist.com and Idealist.org, I explored the options that I had concerning saving the world.
Did you know that even when you just want to volunteer you need a resume, a cover letter, AND an interview? When did volunteering involving extreme probing, extensive experience, and all hours of your life? I can see that volunteer opportunities could become job positions, and become all your life. But to become a bunny whisperer? To be a front desk admin at a small charity? Why? Last night, I was looking on all the volunteer websites and my dad came by (I was in the kitchen because the wireless was being a butt). I looked at him after two hours of looking on the websites and said, "When did it become extremely hard to volunteer?" He just laughed and walked away.
What is interesting is that I almost had a volunteer opportunity through this organization called ACORN. They needed someone on Saturdays to help them out on the phones and intake for their free tax preparation program. I emailed them. I talked to two people. I sent my resume, twice. I finally touched base with someone named Carlos, and scheduled an interview with him Friday night. I usually leave work early on Fridays, but we had an humongous flux of clients that night so I didn't leave work until 5:40 P.M. (I leave at 4 P.M. and the interview was at 6:30 P.M.) Now, I still had some time but I was informed by my client that there was a Warriors game that night, and there is significantly more traffic tonight. So, with an explextive and a quick finish of work (Again, another pile to attempt to finish next week), I basically sped to the appointment in Oakland. I was even early, to my great surprise. I thought, "Yes, I can impress them!" I even did research on the program and the organization, so I knew what I was getting into.Well, when I got there, the doors were locked. What? When I called, a woman answered and said, "Oh, Carlos is gone!" And proceeded to talk to me on the phone when I said in the very beginning that I was standing outside the door in the lovely neighborhood of Oakland. In my work clothes. With my pretty Coach bag. Thanks. She eventually opened the door, but only a fraction of an inch. I pleaded with her, "Is there any way I can talk to someone else, just get a basic understanding of my duties?" "No! Noone is here! They all left!" And so, I wasn't happy. And, if you know me, you will probably know what I said to her (other than using cuss words). I even tried to guilt trip her to try to help me out. What made me even more angry was she said, "Why don't you come tomorrow? They may be here around 10 o'clock." Yeah. No. Sorry, I just spent a good amount of time trying to get here for a SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. Screw you. No thank you. Or she would say, "My goodness, Carlos must have forgot! He had a doctor's appointment." Hmmm. Well, we scheduled the appointment on Wednesday. The interview was on Friday. You would think that he could take the EFFORT to WRITE THE APPOINTMENT IN HIS CALENDAR. I did. But, no, apparently I'm not worth the energy to put that in the calendar! My goodness.
So, hence why I was looking at volunteer positions for almost two hours that night. I just felt so downtrodden. I felt like I was back trying to find a job a year ago this day. Every opportunity turning out to be another let down. And, again, I plead, "When did volunteering become so hard?" When did the idea of helping others become like a job process? When did just giving out the goodness of your heart become a popularity contest? Is it because people use this process as a stepping stone to a career? Is it because so many people use volunteering as another way of screwing other people? Is it because there are so many unreliable people? What? I really want to know why I can't just give time on my weekends to help others? To, really, save the world one hour at a time?
I guess that's where I am going at it the wrong way. I was talking to a friend from group. She works at an organization, and she told me that the reason why she does her process is because some people can be unreliable. And also,there are too many people wanting to save the world. She doesn't require resumes, but she requires an interview because 1. to see if they are reliable to be on time or show up and 2. to see if they really work there. At her organization, the idea of saving the world is preposterous. So, I wonder if that is where I'm getting off the wrong foot. Maybe I shouldn't think of this as my superhero moment, but just a time to do something that I love to do. Although I can't even be a bunny whisperer (you have to get dirty for that...). But at least I get to play with the bunnies, or work for something that inspires my soul. I can't save the world. I think I need to realize that. In a way, I've always thought that maybe I could influence the world in some way. That I was meant to do something spectacular (I know, I am definitely full of myself). But I just felt like that. That's why I started looking at law because I wanted to do public interest. Help the world one policy at a time. But something kept barring me from that. So, I went the other way. I work in a business that is never heard about, and I help people with something that a lot of people look down their noses. I love it. I enjoy it immensely. Maybe I should realize that that is enough. Who knows.
So, be warned: if you want to volunteer make sure you have a resume, cover letter, and three references!
So, because of this inspiration of trying to save the world, I decided to try volunteer on the weekends. Hell, I haven't filled that time up, might as well! I. Must.Be.Busy.At.All.Hours.Of.The.Week. So, venturing into craigslist.com and Idealist.org, I explored the options that I had concerning saving the world.
Did you know that even when you just want to volunteer you need a resume, a cover letter, AND an interview? When did volunteering involving extreme probing, extensive experience, and all hours of your life? I can see that volunteer opportunities could become job positions, and become all your life. But to become a bunny whisperer? To be a front desk admin at a small charity? Why? Last night, I was looking on all the volunteer websites and my dad came by (I was in the kitchen because the wireless was being a butt). I looked at him after two hours of looking on the websites and said, "When did it become extremely hard to volunteer?" He just laughed and walked away.
What is interesting is that I almost had a volunteer opportunity through this organization called ACORN. They needed someone on Saturdays to help them out on the phones and intake for their free tax preparation program. I emailed them. I talked to two people. I sent my resume, twice. I finally touched base with someone named Carlos, and scheduled an interview with him Friday night. I usually leave work early on Fridays, but we had an humongous flux of clients that night so I didn't leave work until 5:40 P.M. (I leave at 4 P.M. and the interview was at 6:30 P.M.) Now, I still had some time but I was informed by my client that there was a Warriors game that night, and there is significantly more traffic tonight. So, with an explextive and a quick finish of work (Again, another pile to attempt to finish next week), I basically sped to the appointment in Oakland. I was even early, to my great surprise. I thought, "Yes, I can impress them!" I even did research on the program and the organization, so I knew what I was getting into.Well, when I got there, the doors were locked. What? When I called, a woman answered and said, "Oh, Carlos is gone!" And proceeded to talk to me on the phone when I said in the very beginning that I was standing outside the door in the lovely neighborhood of Oakland. In my work clothes. With my pretty Coach bag. Thanks. She eventually opened the door, but only a fraction of an inch. I pleaded with her, "Is there any way I can talk to someone else, just get a basic understanding of my duties?" "No! Noone is here! They all left!" And so, I wasn't happy. And, if you know me, you will probably know what I said to her (other than using cuss words). I even tried to guilt trip her to try to help me out. What made me even more angry was she said, "Why don't you come tomorrow? They may be here around 10 o'clock." Yeah. No. Sorry, I just spent a good amount of time trying to get here for a SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. Screw you. No thank you. Or she would say, "My goodness, Carlos must have forgot! He had a doctor's appointment." Hmmm. Well, we scheduled the appointment on Wednesday. The interview was on Friday. You would think that he could take the EFFORT to WRITE THE APPOINTMENT IN HIS CALENDAR. I did. But, no, apparently I'm not worth the energy to put that in the calendar! My goodness.
So, hence why I was looking at volunteer positions for almost two hours that night. I just felt so downtrodden. I felt like I was back trying to find a job a year ago this day. Every opportunity turning out to be another let down. And, again, I plead, "When did volunteering become so hard?" When did the idea of helping others become like a job process? When did just giving out the goodness of your heart become a popularity contest? Is it because people use this process as a stepping stone to a career? Is it because so many people use volunteering as another way of screwing other people? Is it because there are so many unreliable people? What? I really want to know why I can't just give time on my weekends to help others? To, really, save the world one hour at a time?
I guess that's where I am going at it the wrong way. I was talking to a friend from group. She works at an organization, and she told me that the reason why she does her process is because some people can be unreliable. And also,there are too many people wanting to save the world. She doesn't require resumes, but she requires an interview because 1. to see if they are reliable to be on time or show up and 2. to see if they really work there. At her organization, the idea of saving the world is preposterous. So, I wonder if that is where I'm getting off the wrong foot. Maybe I shouldn't think of this as my superhero moment, but just a time to do something that I love to do. Although I can't even be a bunny whisperer (you have to get dirty for that...). But at least I get to play with the bunnies, or work for something that inspires my soul. I can't save the world. I think I need to realize that. In a way, I've always thought that maybe I could influence the world in some way. That I was meant to do something spectacular (I know, I am definitely full of myself). But I just felt like that. That's why I started looking at law because I wanted to do public interest. Help the world one policy at a time. But something kept barring me from that. So, I went the other way. I work in a business that is never heard about, and I help people with something that a lot of people look down their noses. I love it. I enjoy it immensely. Maybe I should realize that that is enough. Who knows.
So, be warned: if you want to volunteer make sure you have a resume, cover letter, and three references!