Volunteer Story – Isabelle
Isabelle tells us about her expirence voluntering with Discovery and why you should too.
I’m in my final year at Swansea University, studying American studies and English Literature. I’m technically in my 4th year as I spent last year in America studying at a university in North Carolina, which was an amazing opportunity. Before I left, I was quite a shy, reserved person. I like to think I was friendly, but still painfully shy and I didn’t really put myself out there very much. Going abroad was very nerve-wracking, and I spent the first few days wondering why I had ever thought going to a new country by myself was a good idea. However, I settled in in now time, and gained so much independence and confidence from the whole experience, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I had heard about Discovery in earlier years, but because I was shy, and not very outgoing, I always talking myself out of volunteering. Coming into my final year after a year abroad I felt so much more self-assured and confident, and when the idea of volunteering came up again, I couldn’t pass it up.
Since joining Discovery, everyone has been so welcoming and friendly and I can’t help but wish I had started earlier. Despite starting late, I still think it will be an invaluable and extremely rewarding experience for me even if it only is for one year. One of the main reasons volunteering at Discovery interests me is the opportunity to help others and impact their lives in some way. It was also be a fulfilling escape from my own life. I look forward to working with a wide range of people from children to elderly people, and helping to improve their lives. I also love that one of the key aims of Discovery is to challenge discrimination, and I would love to help break down barriers in any way I can. As well as helping improve other people’s lives, I think volunteering would help develop skills and gain experience to help me in the future.
I hope that by getting out of my comfort zone I will be able to gain skills and opportunities that will be invaluable for my CV. I would like to continue building my confidence and develop communication skills, which will be useful for future employment, for on my CV, but also in preparing me for working in a professional environment. Overall, I hope that volunteering at Discovery will allow me to make a difference in the community and to people’s lives, which will be very rewarding personally. Along with this, it will also give me the opportunity to me meet new people from a variety of background whilst gaining experience and skills to develop my CV and make me more employable.