Posted by alexandra_k on November 24, 2013, at 19:36:49
so...
however long ago i joined the gym... it was one of those things i knew i *should* do in the sense that it was something *good for me*. but one of those things that was hard to get started on. scary, too.
i'm thinking... the mission for next year should be volunteering.
i've never really understood 'leadership'. popularity... something tied up in. i don't know. i remember my high school maths teacher saying i had leadership potential... but i think he just meant that i did tend to be a bad influence. but then at tech people looked to me... and i guess they did at the last uni, too. though i suspect it is more about other people needing everyone to be the same and since i'm not going to change to be more like them the line of least resistance for them it to be like me. i mean... i don't see anything particularly admirable in me that makes other people try and do that. and i... don't know what to do with it. if that makes sense. i just... rage that people don't... work towards self improvement. i mean... just do your thing, people. be free.
anyway... increasingly... i have started to wonder if i am a bit anti-social. or psychopathic. or something.
then today i got to looking at volunteer opportunities. and now i see that you can apply for an award - and you can get granted it at three levels. and that that goes on your academic transcript. hrm. so... it isn't altruistic... but... well... it is one of those things that would be good for me. i think. leadership. apparently. time management, too, aparently, especially if you go for the gold level which involves your having to do a university leadership course (5 saturdays) - or applying for an organizational equivalent - which i probably can't work my way up to in time... also... i seem to be virtually unemployable. so... this should surely help.
seems like i'll have to start from the bottom. that that is how it works... then work your way up. i mean... start by being assigned tasks that pretty much nobody can f*ck up and eventually you might get to do something... more.
one thing that appealed was old folks home / hospital. there is one - but a bit of a trek. they seemed a big organization, though. i wonder... about approaching a smaller one. there might be more opportunities at the later to do something that really makes a difference. i'm starting to see... i guess i'd rather befriend 1 person... but... well... i guess this leadership thing cares more about populations... policies... which involves your having to persuade and motivate some segment of the masses to get up off their *ss*s and do something... hrm...
i wonder about community mental health... i wouldn't mind doing something on the psych ward... befriending, again. helping make things less... boring.
chaplaincy? they seem to be the outfit doing that... only... you have to have religious affiliation to be considered (wtf???).
lots of stuff with kids... but i'm not so into kids. or teens... but ditto. and worse than that... having to deal with the other volunteers... that would be the hardest / worst part. that is why i'm reluctant to join one of the bigger / more popular organizations...
i don't know... but i have some time to set things up before the start of next year... maybe the idea is to pick a big / established organization and distinguish myself a bit with them (reliability takes time to establish). learn from them. and then... port that elsewhere.
i think... this might be just what my rapidly turning anti-social self might need.
i don't know.
suggestions? personal experiences?
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1054852
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20131110/msgs/1054852.html