With the five months volunteering works, I have been worked in the drop-in program at UBC Learning Exchange. My work is to help residents to solve some problems. At the same time, I also have done different types of work to help my colleagues. Learning Exchange is an interesting volunteer position. Instead of working with children, it is chance for you to work with adults. It will definitely give you an different and wonderful experience.
Learning exchange is in the Downtown Eastside, which is an old community. This area is one of the city’s oldest area. In order to be responsible, I have to tell you that this is a community with a lot issue that you need to keep in mind. It is notorious for its open-air drug trade, sex work, and high rates of poverty, mental illness, infectious disease, and crime. So it is really a challenge for me to volunteer in this community. I have to admit that I was really scared by the first sight of this community. But I still strongly comment volunteers to work in this community. Even though it seems like dangerous and not as friendly as other place, it actually is a really good place and gives you a chance to have a look at another side of life.
I was working in the dropping-in program. Drop-in program is a program that allow residents of this community to have a access to internet and have a chance to use this new technology. Most of the residents coming to this program are not so good at using computers. So they will run to different problems when they are using computers. We also serve free coffee and tea. It also gives residents a chance to communicate with others. They will chat and read newspaper in this program. This whole program holds in the lobby of UBC Learning Exchange. My job is helping arrange the schedule of using computer and help to clean up cups at the end. At the same time, I also help residents to solve some simple computer problems.
It is a wonderful experience to volunteer in UBC Learning Exchange. At there, you will give away all your stereotypes and get a new understands to these residents who may be really in a low social states. For my own experience, when I first come to this place to get my orientation, I was really shocked by what I have seen. There are many residents with low-education level and in a not good finance situation. I was thinking to quit this program but I have changed my mind after several times of my volunteering work. I met a man in UBC Learning Exchange. He often wears a hat and sometimes he also uses a scarf to cover his hair. He always keeps several thin braids at his left side near ear. This man looks not having a good personal hygiene. But he always shaves his mustache in good order and cuts his nails neatly. Every time he shows up, he will have a cup of tea. He is a guitar player and brings his stuff with a small trail car. He usually uses computer to searching music score for guitar. One days, when we were chatting, my volunteer leader asked him how was his arm. He was suffering with tennis elbow. He answered that that is really serious. He almost couldn’t lift his arm in morning. So his doc
tor suggested him to give up playing guitar at least for a year. Then he answered “If I can’t play the guitar, I would rather broke my arm.” This really touched me. Later I known that he had his own live at a hall in the community.
With the experience in this community, I really discover the other side of this group of people. Maybe they have some issue with them and they are not so accepted by the society. But they have their life. That life may be tough but they still survive bravely.
As a volunteer in this community, you should get rid of that attitude that you are coming to help. Instead of thinking about helping others, I think we need to think about what I can learn from them. Just like this organization’s name: UBC Learning Exchange. Just like my volunteer leader has said “ We come here not just giving out. We also get some back.”
Trek is really a wonderful experience for me. It gives me a chance to get out of that university and get into society. As an international student from China, I had never seen this side of western countries. It is also a good chance for me to know the western society in the round. It helps me to break out of the boring schedule of keeping study. For my first year university life, Trek is really an important part. Through the course I took in the first year, trek program gives me chance to using what I have learned in to real life. And it also help me to understand my sociology class much better.
In conclusion, Trek is a wonderful program for your first year in university. It may be a little tough to keep working as a volunteer. But it really gives you an impressive first year. It has so much possibility for you. This program shapes your thinking of your life and future. It also is a good chance to practice your skills of getting along with others. So I highly comment you to take your chance to join Trek program.