To the Rising 9th Graders...

As all those who participate in AGSS in one form or another know, the experience of working with STEM in an all-girls environment is invaluable. For all participants that are about to graduate 8th grade, you may think that this road is over for you. In fact, for anyone who wishes to pursue it, the road is just beginning.

Many of our volunteers were once participants themselves, and graduating to being a volunteer from a participants is a great way to not only help the organization but also discover your own passions as you go through high school. Every year, we try to find new ways to improve the participant experience, and bringing voices to the leadership table who have direct experience with that perspective is crucial. Also, we love to have volunteers from all high school grade levels, especially the younger ones who can grow into eventually leading their own workshops and taking on more responsibility (but if you just want to be a normal volunteer, that’s great too!).

Aside from helping the organization, becoming a volunteer has been extremely rewarding and beneficial for me personally throughout high school. Besides just gaining a few extra service hours, it’s honestly just a simple way to have fun! I’ve met and made friends with other volunteers that don’t go to my school and become closer with those I already knew through shared passions and experiences. An unexpected benefit of volunteering for me is that I actually learn more STEM too. Coincidentally, the week after volunteering at our ecology workshop, three of the terms I learned from that workshop showed up in my biology class.

After my first year volunteering, I joined the leadership team, meaning that I get to help develop and lead workshops. This has been a really cool experience as I’ve gotten to choose the subjects that I enjoy teaching and pull together all my favorite experiences from learning them into a few activities. I’ve grown in my ability to take on more responsibility and a leading role, speaking in front of a group, and countless other skills that I can take with me throughout high school, college, and beyond.
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The main message to get across here is that volunteering with AGSS is definitely something you should try. Whether you want to become a regular volunteer or just have a free weekend, everyone can learn something while also having a good time. If you’re interested, reach out! Feel free to ask a volunteer at AGMT or via social media for more information. See you next year!