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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
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?
Posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2013, at 8:40:36
In reply to volunteering, posted by alexandra_k on November 24, 2013, at 19:36:49
That's how I became an RN. I volunteered in the hospital one afternoon a week with the OT person. She had me sit in with the patients for recreation. I got to talk to them and even got to do aerobics when a very young group of people were patients there. My Son was a teen then and volunteered delivering RX meds to the various hospital units, my Sister volunteered in the pre op room talking to patients before their surgeries. I loved doing what I did as no responsibility it was for pure enjoyment and learning. The OT therapist thought I should be an OT therapist. I liked the idea looked into it but the school was over an hour away and had three kids still living at home then. So went to local community college and the counselor said why not be an RN. My mouth fell open as back then females thought they couldn't do things. I was thrilled and took his advise and started school. I loved being in classes. And Viola was an RN. That is my personal story. Now here from what I understand it isn't that easy to volunteer in a hospital. Fingerprinting and all that stuff. And drug resistant illnesses abound. So there are a lot of good fields to volunteer in. Phillipa
Posted by Partlycloudy on November 25, 2013, at 9:37:19
In reply to volunteering, posted by alexandra_k on November 24, 2013, at 19:36:49
I have had mixed experiences with volunteering.
One was with sticking within my limited field of expertise (antique retail) and felt that I was truly taken advantage of because of my knowledge. Also had some bad personal experiences with drunk homeless people walking in the front door and getting physical. That was good enough for its own session of EMDR, thanks!The other time I tried that sticks in my head was the local science centre run by the educational council. They were sorely underfunded and relied heavily on volunteers to keep the place going. I think that I felt over extended there, given duties like making calls to businesses to solicit gifts for an upcoming raffle. It was too much out of my comfort zone.
I expect that poorly defined parameters made these experiences as poor examples. Now I try to look after myself better, and try to find activities that will enrich me, and challenge me only if that is what I want.
Posted by alexandra_k on November 25, 2013, at 14:07:55
In reply to Re: volunteering » alexandra_k, posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2013, at 8:40:36
That is a wonderful story Phillipa. And a great way to discover something that you want to do.
I have all my shots for working in hospitals - had to get them before starting on physio. I think the hardest thing about getting volunteer work in the hospital is that lots of students are going to be wanting to do it. Hopeful medicine and nursing etc students.
I did think about other things... Conservation projects especially. Planting trees etc. City mission. But, well, if I want to get into health... Then I suppose I should use this to help get me started into health.
Maybe the thing to do is to get in quick before school starts up next year. I could get 3 months work in before then... Then might (hopefully) find myself getting better shift options etc if I am known to be reliable.
There were a few positions going in the city hospital. Maybe I should stick to those. Most of them required no less than 6 month commitment to one shift per week of around 3 hours... I got the impression... They were trying to recruit older people rather than students... But that might just be the impression they are trying to give off.
One of them (strangely?) was 'friends of the ER'. Where you keep the waiting room tidy with magazines etc and assist people who are waiting. Helping them find food and water and bathrooms and the like. I bet that one is fun on a Friday night ahaha. Or a person who gives directions to the lost. Or... Yeah, okay, there were a few. I should get started properly applying...
Posted by alexandra_k on November 25, 2013, at 14:22:30
In reply to Re: volunteering, posted by Partlycloudy on November 25, 2013, at 9:37:19
I didn't know you knew about antique retail. I love watching antique roadshow sometimes. Lots of cool things :)
Sorry to hear that you were taken advantage of because of your knowledge. And that you had a bad experience with drunk homeless people. I... Don't feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof anymore. Now that I've backed off the intense weightlifting, I guess.
I see a lot of people on the streets trying to get people to donate money for this and that. I... I can't imagine anything worse. I always feel harassed by such people. And sometimes (when they aren't in a uniform) it is hard to tell the difference between them and randoms who ask you for spare change. Who I used to have empathy for, oddly enough. But now... Well... I think they should take up juggling or something at the very least.
I guess... The university website lists some jobs... So they are 'university approved'. Ur... If that makes sense. I get the impression they are very managed. So you are given a bucket and a street corner or whatever. Very circumscribed. Probably very hierarchical, too. So students get to say they 'managed a team of 4' street collectors for their CV or whatever - you know... After they have been doing it for a year.
There is a bigger volunteer website... That has more substantial (that is the word) volunteering positions. These ones have 6 month commitment - because there is some training / knowledge base involved, basically. I guess the friends of the ER one is helping out the receptionists more than anything... One would have the opportunity to work on ones people skills, though. Soothing. Calming. De-escalating. I imagine... That some people are in the ER because they are lonely / are lonely because they are in the ER. Perhaps mot so much in the way of prospects for advancement, but good opportunity to develop people skills...
That one could be perfect.
Posted by Partlycloudy on November 25, 2013, at 16:31:35
In reply to Re: volunteering » Partlycloudy, posted by alexandra_k on November 25, 2013, at 14:22:30
That ER position sounds pretty good from here!
Posted by baseball55 on November 25, 2013, at 18:53:07
In reply to Re: volunteering, posted by Partlycloudy on November 25, 2013, at 16:31:35
I really want to volunteer at anyplace, doing anything, that doesn't involve child-care or elder-care. I've applied to so many places. They want references, long on-line applications, etc. Then I never hear back. There is a competition here in Boston for volunteer work. Students, part-timers, retired people. I mean, I would be happy just handing out towels at the local Y. Just to fill time and get out of the house and do something semi-social.
I have a friend who retired from a law firm and tried to find volunteer work in law. Too many applicants. He kept looking for things to do and, after about a year, was able to get asked to do weeding and stuff at a local nature conservancy.
The one volunteer position I was offered involved preparing homeless women for the GRE (high-school equivalency test). But it involved three-hour classes, three mornings a week and I just couldn't handle the time and preparation demands.
Posted by alexandra_k on November 25, 2013, at 19:05:21
In reply to Re: volunteering, posted by Partlycloudy on November 25, 2013, at 16:31:35
Yeah. Maybe... I'm thinking on it...
Posted by alexandra_k on November 25, 2013, at 19:08:41
In reply to Re: volunteering, posted by baseball55 on November 25, 2013, at 18:53:07
I think there might be a similar competitiveness to volunteer work here. With students and retired people as you say. I think that the ER one... Well... The intention was more retired people than students. Same for directing people around the hospital.
Still... I guess now is the time to apply. Given the christmas rush and the fact that I can work over the christmas period. Get in before the students.
I guess... This is probably going to be just as hard to figure as a 'real job' would be. Sigh.
Posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2013, at 19:59:09
In reply to Re: volunteering » baseball55, posted by alexandra_k on November 25, 2013, at 19:08:41
Alex apply for ER position. I was in early 30's when did this. It was fun too. My Son loved what he did and so did my Sister. And she & I both ended up RN's. A good place to volunteer would be a psych ward as I did. There is never enough people just to talk to the patients and believe me they need to talk. Phillipa
Posted by rockerchick46 on November 26, 2013, at 10:44:26
In reply to Re: volunteering » alexandra_k, posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2013, at 19:59:09
I had good experiences working in a hospital Emergency Room. I think I want to be an RN.
Tam
Posted by Phil on December 4, 2013, at 11:38:15
In reply to Re: volunteering, posted by rockerchick46 on November 26, 2013, at 10:44:26
I volunteered at the food bank in San Antonio and lasted one day. Two ladies in an office wanted me to paint it. Not what I had in mind.
This is the end of the thread.
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