This Is My Reason
I interned at a non-profit organization last spring 2009 at a place in Orange County. It is called OCAPICA or the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance. I helped out with Youth Programs and did most of my work with the afterschool tutoring program and with the male leadership building group.
Due to lack of funding, the male and female leadership groups were postponed. I've met a lot of great youth while I was an intern there and would have liked something like this in my life while in high school. After my internship was over, I never forgot about those students. After a few months of job hunting and not getting any offers, I felt depressed and needed to do something, so I drove back out to the OC and volunteered my time as an Academic Tutor to the afterschool program.
I gave them a lot of my time and did my best to make it fun for them at the program. I knew most of the youth from my time last year and had to work to develop relationships with the newer students, but eventually I got there. My family and friends were wondering why I spent my time there...working for free when I could be spending my time looking for a job. One of my friends even offered me a job as a receptionist that later could advance to payroll or something when they had time. I refused because I had just started volunteering and I'd rather have a volunteer experience where I could build up experience related to what I want to do than to have a job not working on experience for my future career.
I was happy doing what I was doing, even if it was for free and I would not have seen myself happy working at that place even though it would be with friends. Something happened, one of the coordinators was leaving and she and others vouched for me and I was offered a job at my non-profit organization. I was only there on a two month contract, but it was a part time job, nonetheless.
I worked so hard and did everything I could for the students at the program and the last two months were filled with so many events to get ready for. I was only there working at most 20 hours a week. I worked three days, but that was not enough time to get everything planned and ready. Plus 3-4 hours I was there each day went to helping out and running the after school program, so there would be no planning then. I went through so much stress along with my co-worker, but somehow we managed everything.
End of the year events, graduations, silent auctions, stuff for the program, and most recently a Youth Retreat that helps the Seniors transition from high school to college. Did I do a lot more work than I had to? Yes. And for what? A paycheck? Experience? Sure. All that means nothing. Because this is what it was all about. This is why I went through everything...
Dear Johnson,
You're a meanie. Just kidding! But you are. But I love it. Haha. I feel like I barely know you, but that is okay because we're like homies still, right? Anyway, thank you so much for being there and saying, "Hello" when I came in...Also, I would like to thank you for helping me with the printer whenever I needed it. You don't even know how important that was. I also want to thank you for those cooking workshops...Thank you so much for all the memories.
Hey Johnson,
First of all, I just want to say those were the best hot dogs I have ever had. lol. Thanks for the food Johnson. You would make a great chef one of these days. Well, just wanted to thank you for making the retreat one of the best experiences I have ever had. I'm pretty sure everyone that attended the retreat also had a great time. You're probably one of the funniest guys I have ever met. You made all of our games so fun and you made sure you kept everyone not only smiling bur laughing their butt off. Thanks for also sharing your experience in college with us. I'm sure that would help everyone out knowing that college is right around the corner. Thank you so much Johnson. You are a great person and keep doing what you are doing.
Well, I just wanted to thank OCAPICA for the retreat. It was great. I had the best time ever. This retreat helped me prepare myself for the next step of my life, which I was really scared for. I didn't even know how I was going to get through all this college stuff because I knew nothing about college other than it is going to be way different from high school. There is more to college than just parties, guys (lol), and the classes that we need to take. I came to the retreat scared, but I left so excited and ready for college. I wanted to thank you for including me into this great retreat because if it wasn't for this, I would be sitting at home so lost. I would probably start school late, or maybe even undecided if I wanted to attend college or not. So THANK YOU so much for that!
I interned at a non-profit organization last spring 2009 at a place in Orange County. It is called OCAPICA or the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance. I helped out with Youth Programs and did most of my work with the afterschool tutoring program and with the male leadership building group.
Due to lack of funding, the male and female leadership groups were postponed. I've met a lot of great youth while I was an intern there and would have liked something like this in my life while in high school. After my internship was over, I never forgot about those students. After a few months of job hunting and not getting any offers, I felt depressed and needed to do something, so I drove back out to the OC and volunteered my time as an Academic Tutor to the afterschool program.
I gave them a lot of my time and did my best to make it fun for them at the program. I knew most of the youth from my time last year and had to work to develop relationships with the newer students, but eventually I got there. My family and friends were wondering why I spent my time there...working for free when I could be spending my time looking for a job. One of my friends even offered me a job as a receptionist that later could advance to payroll or something when they had time. I refused because I had just started volunteering and I'd rather have a volunteer experience where I could build up experience related to what I want to do than to have a job not working on experience for my future career.
I was happy doing what I was doing, even if it was for free and I would not have seen myself happy working at that place even though it would be with friends. Something happened, one of the coordinators was leaving and she and others vouched for me and I was offered a job at my non-profit organization. I was only there on a two month contract, but it was a part time job, nonetheless.
I worked so hard and did everything I could for the students at the program and the last two months were filled with so many events to get ready for. I was only there working at most 20 hours a week. I worked three days, but that was not enough time to get everything planned and ready. Plus 3-4 hours I was there each day went to helping out and running the after school program, so there would be no planning then. I went through so much stress along with my co-worker, but somehow we managed everything.
End of the year events, graduations, silent auctions, stuff for the program, and most recently a Youth Retreat that helps the Seniors transition from high school to college. Did I do a lot more work than I had to? Yes. And for what? A paycheck? Experience? Sure. All that means nothing. Because this is what it was all about. This is why I went through everything...
Dear Johnson,
You're a meanie. Just kidding! But you are. But I love it. Haha. I feel like I barely know you, but that is okay because we're like homies still, right? Anyway, thank you so much for being there and saying, "Hello" when I came in...Also, I would like to thank you for helping me with the printer whenever I needed it. You don't even know how important that was. I also want to thank you for those cooking workshops...Thank you so much for all the memories.
Hey Johnson,
First of all, I just want to say those were the best hot dogs I have ever had. lol. Thanks for the food Johnson. You would make a great chef one of these days. Well, just wanted to thank you for making the retreat one of the best experiences I have ever had. I'm pretty sure everyone that attended the retreat also had a great time. You're probably one of the funniest guys I have ever met. You made all of our games so fun and you made sure you kept everyone not only smiling bur laughing their butt off. Thanks for also sharing your experience in college with us. I'm sure that would help everyone out knowing that college is right around the corner. Thank you so much Johnson. You are a great person and keep doing what you are doing.
Well, I just wanted to thank OCAPICA for the retreat. It was great. I had the best time ever. This retreat helped me prepare myself for the next step of my life, which I was really scared for. I didn't even know how I was going to get through all this college stuff because I knew nothing about college other than it is going to be way different from high school. There is more to college than just parties, guys (lol), and the classes that we need to take. I came to the retreat scared, but I left so excited and ready for college. I wanted to thank you for including me into this great retreat because if it wasn't for this, I would be sitting at home so lost. I would probably start school late, or maybe even undecided if I wanted to attend college or not. So THANK YOU so much for that!
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