Prior to this week’s class, I believed that I already understood the helpful role of volunteers at non-profit organizations. However, after observing the guest speakers, I now realize that the volunteers are not just helpful, but essential for any organization to run and achieve its goals. Both speakers aimed to convey the message that each of their respective non-profit organizations wouldn’t exist without their volunteers. They spoke about how they search for volunteers who are passionate, committed, and determined to the cause the organizations fight for. Hearing these passionate adults talk about how they are proud of their non-profit organizations and the work they have accomplished through them was captivating. Although both organizations differed greatly with their direct goals (one was farm focused, the other focused on helping immigrants), they had identical end goals: to make life easier and better for someone else. This is a commonality found in most, if not all, non-profit organizations. Listening to the presentations of both speakers increased my admiration for non-profits and made me feel more excited to explore my issue through this lens. When pursuing my issue through the non-profit organizations lens, I need to consider the challenges that come with trying to contact organizations located on the other side of the country. Although location has been a worry on my mind throughout my journey with this issue, those worries have subsided with the help of the speakers. After hearing them say that neither of them imagined they would end up successful in their respective organization, but the passion they had for the cause helped them achieve captured my attention and helped me remember that I am capable of dealing with this issue.
My biggest takeaway from the presentations is that the concept of a person following their dreams is not an outdated idea. This class session has helped me remember that no matter how challenging a task is or how hopeless finding a solution to an issue may seem, if I follow my passions and stay confident in my dreams, I will succeed. Through this class session, I also realized that volunteering is vital for the success of any non-profit organization. Personally, I think there are a few options I could follow to take action on my issue through this lens. The two top options are to contact the organizations focused on my issue and make connections and get there opinion on how I can make a difference from Ohio or to travel to the organizations and be a direct, hands-on volunteer. All in all, witnessing these presentations have provided me with the reassurance I needed in order to help me remember that with the help other equally passionate people, the issue I have selected can indeed be resolved.