Volunteering: A Gift You Give Yourself | Rosalie Ann Norton | TEDxRuakura

Summary

The speaker reflects on their experiences volunteering from a young age, inspired by family members who always put others first. They recount moments spent helping at food banks, gift wrapping for charity, and becoming involved with a youth-focused organization. Volunteering helped the speaker overcome anxiety, build confidence, and develop meaningful relationships. The journey highlights how even small acts of kindness can lead to positive change, personal growth, and bring joy to others. The message encourages people to be kind, confident, and to take action in making a difference.

Takeaways

• 🤝 Volunteering is a central theme in the speaker's life, influenced by family members who are actively involved in community work.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The speaker grew up in a family environment that values helping others, with their mother and grandmother as prime examples.
• 😲 The speaker was initially surprised to learn that people volunteer their time without expecting any payment.
• 🎄 The speaker's first solo volunteer experience was in 2019 at a local food bank, which proved to be rewarding and less intimidating than expected.
• 🍞 Volunteering at the food bank during lockdown taught the speaker the vital role of volunteers and donations in helping the community.
• 😌 The speaker struggles with anxiety but has pushed through those challenges by participating in public activities like singing, public speaking, and a TEDx talk.
• 🎁 For the past two years, the speaker and their family have volunteered by gift-wrapping at a mall to raise donations during the Christmas season.
• 💡 Volunteering has helped the speaker gain confidence and develop decision-making skills that extend beyond just following instructions.
• 🌱 The speaker has been involved with Seed Waikato, an organization supporting youth mental wellbeing, which has led to valuable mentoring and friendships.
• 🙌 Through volunteering, the speaker has learned that small acts of kindness can have a significant positive impact on others, bringing joy and confidence to both giver and receiver.

Q & A

What activities did the speaker engage in during their teenage years?

The speaker spent a lot of their extra time volunteering and getting involved in their community.

How did the speaker's family influence their involvement in volunteering?

The speaker's family members, including their mom and nana, were always volunteering, which inspired the speaker to do the same.

What was the speaker's first volunteering experience?

The speaker's first volunteering experience was at a local food bank around Christmas in 2019.

How did the speaker feel during their first volunteering experience at the food bank?

The speaker was initially nervous but was welcomed warmly and enjoyed the experience so much that they wanted to return the next day.

What was the atmosphere like when the speaker volunteered during the lockdown?

During the lockdown, the atmosphere was different with only six volunteers present, as many were in high-risk categories and couldn't help.

How did volunteering at the food bank impact the speaker's understanding of its importance?

Volunteering at the food bank made the speaker realize the importance of having workers and volunteers to keep the operation moving and the reliance on donations.

What challenges did the speaker face in their teenage years?

The speaker suffered from bad anxiety that started affecting them more as they became a teenager, making it hard to socialize and talk to new people.

How did the speaker's involvement in volunteer gift wrapping help them gain confidence?

Volunteering to gift wrap at a shopping mall helped the speaker gain inner confidence, learn to handle money, hold conversations, and make decisions.

What organization did the speaker become a part of and how did it help them?

The speaker became a part of Seed Waikato, an organization focused on youth mental wellbeing, where they wrote blogs, helped set up events, and found a supportive community.

How did the speaker's nana's experience with volunteering in New Zealand differ from her initial expectations?

The speaker's nana was initially shy but found that volunteering allowed her to experience the local lifestyle, make friends, and discover a love for knitting.

What lesson did the speaker learn about happiness and kindness through their volunteering experiences?

The speaker learned that happiness doesn't have a price and that doing good deeds and acts of kindness can bring significant joy to others and oneself.