The semester is rapidly coming to an end and most Camosun students will be scrambling to find a menial summer job to pay off those loathsome bills. But a lot of summer jobs lack relevancy towards a career aspiration.
For some students, the way around this is to volunteer. Camosun Sports Management student Sarah Smith spends the majority of her free time volunteering, not just in her area of study but also as her way to strengthen the community.
“In the summer I volunteer as a camp counsellor, I’m on the Victoria Goddess marathon committee as a volunteer coordinator, I’ve just signed on with the Greater Victoria Public Library to be a driver to drive books to and from people’s houses who cannot get to the library themselves, I coached a kids’ ice hockey team, and I donate blood as often as I am able,” she says.
Smith notes that as important as it is to excel in one’s professional life, it’s more important to help others who don’t have the fortune of a professional life.
“I spend enough time focused on my life, so it’s amazing how taking a little bit of time for someone else can rearrange my priorities and make me realize that young children, impressionable teens, or the disadvantaged are what need our attention,” she says.
For those who cannot commit a lot of time but want to get involved, a good place to look is Volunteer Victoria. This organization even caters to students’ area of study.
“We provide guidance for anyone who’s looking for something in particular to fit with their career path,” says program coordinator Leanna Hill. “Our website lists a variety of volunteer positions that coincide with students’ needs.”
Many of the positions available at Volunteer Victoria require an easy three-month commitment, some as little as two hours a week. The site lists numerous organizations, such as the James Bay Community Project, Alzheimer Society, CRD Parks, CFUV 101.9FM, and BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Wild ARC.
“Every six months we have a training program and 100 people can come,” says BC SPCA receptionist Amy McLaughlan. “Right now we are full until August, but a lot of people don’t follow through for one reason or another, so we are always accepting volunteers.”
The BC SPCA requires a minimum six-month commitment, although longer is preferred (it’s easier on the animals to have consistency). For students who cannot have a pet, being an “animal companion” is a convenient option. All it takes is a couple of hours a week.
Volunteering is a great way to network, but in the end it’s about reaching out, touching lives, and giving back to the community.
“If I can take a little bit of time out of my day to help someone I absolutely will,” says Smith. “It’s vital to care for each other to make our community stronger.”