Junior Volunteer, Matt Levin, holding Waylon, a Blue & Gold Macaw
"This I Believe"
"I believe in the basic human need to belong. This need to belong can be as simple as needing friends so that you feel that you have a place in the world, or, for me, it could be as complex as continuing to volunteer at the World Bird Sanctuary. For me, the need to belong is huge, since I don’t have much of a life outside of school, let alone a social life.
"When I stopped to think about it, it seemed pretty obvious what I could do to fix that problem. I could volunteer at the World Bird Sanctuary! Not only has the World Bird Sanctuary given me a place in the world, but it also makes me feel like, to quote a Linkin Park song,” I’m somewhere I belong”. Although I still don’t have much of a life outside of that, when I’m volunteering at the World Bird Sanctuary, I feel like I belong because all of the staff is really friendly and easy to get along with. Also, it’s easy to see that, when I leave to go back home, that I’ve accomplished something, because I sign off for the things that I did on a chore sheet and then I can see just how helpful I was.
"Another reason why I feel like I belong at the World Bird Sanctuary is that whenever I get something done, whichever staff members are there always thank me and let me know that they recognize and appreciate the fact that I did something. This is also a part of needing to belong--having work that you did, and could have worked hard on-- recognized in a way that you know it’s recognized. Also, according to some of the staff members, when I started volunteering, there were only a few junior volunteers. (A junior volunteer is someone who volunteers at the World Bird Sanctuary who is under the age of 17. After 17, you’re just a volunteer.) Now, however, there are a lot more than just me and around one other person. I feel so strongly that I belong at the World Bird Sanctuary, that if I get the chance, I’m going to work there.
"I believe in the basic need to belong and to have your work recognized in a way that you notice. The World Bird Sanctuary helps me accomplish both of these things."
Submitted by Matt Levin, World Bird Sanctuary Junior Volunteer
1 comment:
Volunteering is a wonderful thing.I volunteer at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary,and I absolutely love it.
I love birds,there amazing creatures.When I'm there,weather I'm helping feeding the owls,the hawks,or in the songbird aviary.It all wonderful.
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