2019: YEAR IN REVIEW

Volunteering on the Youth of Distinction Awards committee has allowed me to recognize youth across Calgary for their talents and services. as a committee member, I selected recipients for the awards and helped plan the ceremony at the Calgary Zoo. Youth Central has also allowed me to express myself creatively through the YAA blog, which I write for on a monthly basis.

I first started volunteering as an 11 year old because I thought it would be fun. Over time, I began to understand that volunteering is also about developing life skills, maturity and contributing to the community. Now, I volunteer for projects that fuel my passion and to meet people who are also passionate about solving issues. Having been rejected from many opportunities simply because of my age, the opportunity to be involved with Youth Central is something I am very thankful for.

As an active member of Youth Central, I have also been given chances to grow as a person, share my skills and gain experience for later in life. As a Youth Central volunteer, I’m embraced for my age and am able to learn and mature through exposure to a wide variety of experiences.

After high school, I plan to study biological sciences and eventually pursue a biological research career. Although Youth Central has not impacted my interest in biology, my involvement with the organization has increased my chances of achieving these post-secondary and career goals. Volunteering has also made me a better communicator, improving my ability to present research and reach out to others for opportunities in fields I am interested in.

Before joining Youth Central I had a very negative mindset and constantly put myself down by telling myself that I was just a kid and I could never change the world. And maybe the world isn’t perfect, and maybe there are problems that I cannot solve, but being involved with Youth Central has shown me that I don’t need to change the world, I just need to change someone’s world. I do believe I’ve done that, and I suppose that is what being with Youth Central means to me; it is a chance to do good, when I didn’t think I could.

I used to volunteer to simply accumulate hours. I volunteered to buff up my applications, but then I joined Youth Central and I started volunteering with a desire to get more involved in my community and to learn as much about it as I could. I volunteered to help in places I felt passion for. Within a few weeks of volunteering with Youth Central, my motivation to volunteer was no longer a desire for hours, but rather experience. I want to learn something new everyday, and I cannot think of a better way to do it than volunteering.

Looking at the numerous experiences Youth Central has provided me, I think my favorite would have to be each and every connection I’ve made. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the time a lady gave me a candy after I wheeled her back to her room nor will I forget bonding with younger kids while playing with trains with them.

After high school, I’d like to go to business school and see where life takes me. Although, Youth Central did not direct my decision to go to business school, I do feel that it has impacted and shaped me a lot. 

My favourite experience with Youth Central was getting involved with a Downstage Theatre workshop project last year. We had the amazing chance to write poetry, stories and songs about our experiences and what it means to us to be youth in a rapidly changing world. The goal of the project was to create a link between youth voices and the fine arts, and it was a side of volunteering that I’d never seen before. Plus, I got to meet so many cool artists and directors from Downstage Theatre that I’m still connected with today.

The opportunity to be a part of Youth Central and to be such an active voice in my city means the most to me because it shows me just how vital community, understanding and leadership are to creating safe spaces and environments where we can be heard. To me, being a part of Youth Central and YVC is all about making an impact in your community that you want to see in the world, and understanding that your voice is important.

I volunteer because it’s fun! Volunteering is such a rewarding way to spend your time with other youth who are equally passionate about community and giving back. It’s also a great way to bring everyone together. I’ve met so many people my age who I’ve become incredibly close with that I’d never have met if I didn’t volunteer.

Everything I’ve learned from being a Youth Central volunteer is so important to who I am and I’m confident I’ll be able to take these skills to post-secondary as well. I’ve become more familiar with my community and the people in it, project planning, community outreach and how to take initiative for things you are passionate about. All this has helped me spark an interest for community and leadership, and these are things I know will continue to be a priority for me in the future.

I feel as though the Mayor’s Youth Council and Youth Central as a whole have not only shaped me but have been one of the most defining experiences of my high school career. This program has completely transformed my take on leadership. I’ve learned what it means to be both an effective leader and a compassionate leader while simultaneously learning to understand how much more important people are than projects.

Before I joined Youth Central, I viewed leadership as being able to achieve the goal at all costs, no matter the effect it has on a person’s well-being. In joining the Mayor’s Youth Council, I met people who completely changed my perspective and showed me how important it is for every team member to be at peak emotional well-being. Now I know it’s okay if we need to take an entire meeting just to check up on the whole group or just laugh and enjoy ourselves because people (especially high school students) need that relief and need to talk to people when they are experiencing challenges. I am so lucky to have joined Youth Central because I’m not sure that I would have learned this very valuable lesson otherwise.

Over the course of the past few years, I have met so many people from different countries, backgrounds and walks of life who share their stories with me. These stories and deeper connections push me to find as many outlets of volunteerism as I can. I want to learn from these groups of people so that I can help even more people and better understand the world around me.

After high school, I hope to pursue a career in law. I would say that Youth Central has definitely impacted my decision to pursue an undergraduate degree in political science. Once again my involvement with the Mayor’s Youth Council seriously piqued my interest in municipal affairs and the functioning of not only municipal but federal government structures as well. It has inspired me to try and understand how I can give back to my country in a way that pushes for significant change in both our legal and political systems.

I first joined Youth Central as a general volunteer with the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) program. I later became involved with YVC Steering committee and the Calgary Youth Foundation. 

One of my favourite experiences with Youth Central has been working with the Cinderella Project, which happened to be my very first volunteer project. I’ve had the opportunity to help graduates get ready for their graduations, see their faces light up when they find “the dress” and even give them fashion advice about which accessories to choose. Graduating high school is a milestone achievement and getting to celebrate with these grads is truly heartwarming.  

Every opportunity I’m exposed to through Youth Central is a new learning experience in which I meet new people or try things I’ve never done before. I get to experience local community projects and be of service to them. Experiencing issues first-hand also allows me to understand how to tackle them. 

I volunteer because I enjoy being immersed in my community in unique ways. I would never have had the opportunity to work with a farmers market, be a part of a fashion show or a hip-hop dance competition. The friendships I’ve made through each project are also an intangible reward. Through every new experience, I continue to love volunteering with Youth Central and I hope to continue fostering amazing experiences.

After high school, I am planning to study neuroscience at the University of Calgary. Throughout the time I have been a part of the program, I have met various volunteers who wanted to pursue this degree as well. Having kept in touch, they shared their experiences within the program and influenced my desire to apply.