Undergraduate / "to volunteer at Texas School for the Deaf" - An issue of importance- UT Austin [4]

UT Austin transfer

Hi,

Im enrolling in UT this Fall as a transfer student...please throw any harsh or nice feedback...I need to turn this in soon! many thanks for any feedback left for me! (english is my 2nd language-please keep that in mind)

"Mark, you need to start volunteering soon to be able to know what you want to do in your life," my wife said. "Fine" I sighed; well aware I needed volunteer hours to get a job at school because I did not get my bachelors degree yet. The only reason I ever began volunteering was because of my wife who encouraged me to also to learn more about what I really wanted in life. My wife helped me start volunteering by talking to her boss and get me in the door. Few weeks later they contacted me and have set me up as a one on one for a middle school student. "You'll be working with various special needs children and it will be challenging also gives you an idea of what it is like working for special needs children."

It was an eye opener. However, as we began preparing for a one on one with a sixth grader on telling time. It has became clear to me how his disabilities impacted with his school work strongly. "Okay, I had to take it down a level as I was telling to myself." After he completed the task I began reviewing his work. All of the answers were still wrong. I tried to do body gesture instead of using words and it has worked for him. When he finally got his assignment correct. There was a glowing look in his face and high fived me I felt a sense of fulfillment and purpose I had never felt before. After that moment, I have started doing one on one with other students in the same department. I quickly forgot my initial self-centered motive of accumulating volunteer hours for my resume. That has also motivated me to pursue my Bachelors degree and teachers certification so I can contribute my knowledge to those children who does not have the benefits I had when I was growing up.

I continued to volunteer at Texas School for the Deaf to this day. Although volunteers never expect anything in return for their services. I felt that I have been repaid by students looking forward, being excited when I come in to help. It does require patience, and the impact by volunteering can make for one or many students in life. I did not have well educated parents in my life and my wife has taught me better. This has also helped me to decide on what to pursue further in college to get my degree in.