Volunteer flashback

I was shuffling my feet along the crisp, cold leaves that had recently fallen from the tree in front of my home as I slowly approached my front door. It had been a really strange day, and I was feeling less than motivated. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I had woken up that morning with a desire for excitement and sparkle in my day. However, I was given dull, boring, and drawn out instead. I was just thankful to be getting home, and I was looking forward to curling up on the couch, with a bowl of my favourite kind of Honey Bunches of Oats, and spending a mindless hour clicking around on facebook and checking my e-mail. I didn’t expect to find anything overly intriguing on either.

I was wrong.

In fact, what I found in my inbox was exactly what I was subconsciously looking for all day. Excitement. Inspiration. Motivation. It came in the form of the ACTIVATE volunteer form. I think I can speak for many past activators when I say that suddenly my heart started beating faster, and I couldn’t help, but produce a large smile across my face. It was like all the memories, knowledge, friendships, and everything else that came along with the ACTIVATE Conference suddenly floated to the surface and I was overwhelmed with emotion. It was like my life was suddenly sparkling, if you will. I could have been upset really easily after, as I scrolled down the page to find out that the conference was taking place during a time which I will be out of the country.

However, my next thought was much more pleasant than you may expect.

I had an incredible experience as a volunteer. It is a time in my life that I cherish and learned so much from both the other volunteers and delegates that attended the conference. I had my time to feel inspired and motivated, and get the chance to inspire and motivate others. It is someone else’s turn to do that. It is a beautiful opportunity to get involved further with an organization that is truly passionate and inspired by the potential of youth across Canada.

So, here is my suggestion to all past delegates that have attended the National Youth Leadership Conference held by Motivate Canada: Close the facebook window on your computer. Close that computer game you’ve been distracted with. Even close the latest assignment that you have been working on for school. Now, open your email inbox and find the volunteer application form. Reflect upon your experience as a delegate, and make a decision about whether you want to help give 50 youth across Canada the same, or even better experience that you were able to have. You may have been motivated and inspired as a delegate, but I can speak from experience when I say, you will be overwhelmed with the motivation and inspiration that you gain from the delegates that you will so quickly get to know.

The next set of delegates are waiting for a group of motivated and dedicated youth to help mentor them to become activators in their community. Become a part of that group; that family of people that have the same drive and passion for youth engagement as you do. If it means anything, I believe in you.

Posted by Becky Molly, ACTIVATE 2010 Volunteer