Over the past four months, my journey of volunteering has been nothing short of transformative. Initially, I decided to get involved to become more connected with the community I was pushed into. Over the course of four months, this experience would grow to leave a lasting impact on my personal development, boosting my confidence and allowing me to express myself more freely.

Working with children has presented both challenges and rewards. I’ve dedicated my time to various groups at the Warren Township Teen Center, such as the Guy’s Group and Girl’s Group, which cater to middle school students. Additionally, I hope soon to participate in Teen Empowerment, a program specifically designed for seventh graders and above. Through these initiatives, I’ve had the chance to build deeper relationships with the kids and engage in discussions on more mature topics like consent, how to manage and pace yourself in a relationship, and more.

The staff at the Teen Center are particularly friendly and approachable. They are incredible mentors and you can come to them for advice on many things like relationships and school-related subjects. They teach the members of the center well, giving them space to grow to be independent individuals and learn that being responsible for their words and actions is a beneficial for their future years.

Overall, my volunteering experience has been an enriching experience of self-discovery and active participation in my community.