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Volunteerism For You and Me

In July 1996, while I was thinking about retirement and what I would do when I left full-time work after nearly half a century doing secretarial work, I thought about freelance writing and tutoring.  And then, opportunity knocked on my door!

I attended a poetry reading sponsored by a municipal labor union.  I was introduced to a coordinator of their Education Fund.  After the introductions ended and the niceties observed, Ms. B asked me if I would like to be a tutor in her sector of the Education Fund.  She said I would be working with adult students.

By September, 1996, I was working three or four evenings (and sometimes Saturday!) helping men and women realize their dreams.  Some of them worked on their reading, English grammar and mathematics.  These students came to these sessions for many reasons--realizing lifelong wishes for literacy, preparing for college entrance, passing municipal exams for jobs, etc.

I watched many of these students make these sessions a high priority in their lives.  They walked into the classroom with bright and hopeful smiles.  Others came to tutoring on the run from overtime on the job or child/family obligations.  Except for five students, all of these men and women went onto realize their dreams of high school and college diplomas, profound improvement in their basic skills, and advancement at work.  From these sessions emerged a teacher, a supervisor for public school crossing guards, an administrative assistant (he had been a chauffeur!), a corrections officer, and the rest who sought promotions at work received them.  A lady retiree went on to become a tutor herself and a participant in her church's Sunday services.

Programs like this seem to be the first to get the axe when people are restructuring their organizations in order to save money.  It was with profound regret that I ended my ten-year association with the wonderful Ms. B and the various male and female students I had met since 1996.

There are famous people who do public service announcements on television and radio touting the merits of becoming a volunteer.  Many charitable organizations could not exist without their volunteers.  Yet, while there are myriad positive reasons for becoming a volunteer, there are a few that are negative and need to be taken into consideration before offering to lend a hand anywhere.

While thinking about retirement, consider the value of volunteering.

Sandra Pianin is a freelance writer and reviewer who lives in New York City.  She is a frequent contributor to ladies-room.net and a new book reviewer for newsblaze.com.