To be a Volunteer? Why not!

Group photo with one of participant in our summer camp (CommTech).

In this ocassion I would like to share my first experience in my life as a volunteer. Starting in the end of my first year in college, there is an opportunity to be part of volunteer in ITS International Office. 

ITS is abbreviation of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember instead of Institut Teknologi Surabaya. So, here is the place where I pursue my degree. 

It is common for all students who will take an action in their sophomore to join the organization. Probably, They will confused to choose student association in department, faculty or Institution (BEM).

I don't know how I had no interest to join any student association. I have a friend of mine who join volunteer in ITS International office a year before and saw him had a lot of activity in volunteering in ITS International office.

I am asking a lot to many senior and also students who incharge in that volunteering activity. Asking why they are work so professionally in many events. 

Based on a lot interview, I got information about how this volunteering activity running their program. 

Basically, volunteer in here is support International Office to accelerate ITS to be world class university. 

ITS International Office have so many agenda for realizing the goals such as increasing number of International students in ITS, Provide english class in every department. 

Not only about these things but also make workshops to upgrade the students and staff knowledges about Internationalization, International certification for every department (AUN, ABED, etc), Held the International summer camp and many more

With a lot of workload therefore International Office have 3 divisions inside the volunteer which are Hospitality for International Students, Workshop and Media Information.

Here is the coordinator and co-coordinator volunteer of ITS International Office 2015 - 2016.

Hospitality incharge in held any program for International Students such as Induction, bahasa Indonesia class, Cultural Trip, Traditional dance and music, and so on

Workshop is about creating program for local students in ITS to accelerate their knowledges about Internationalization with workshops how to create CV, How to get scholarship for master, Sharing session and so on

Media Information is who are involved in web design, database, e-learning, designing promotional materials, create poster, banner, for information across the campus.

I decide to join Hospitality Division simply because I would like to get more chance to practice in speaking english while I am realized that english is my weakness.

The reality is not fully as I expected before, I am not so intense dealing with International students at first.

In first 3 months, I mostly deal with things like folding brochures, delivering letters, tidy up the class, printing brochures, picking up foreign students who I think are less suited to the actual jobdesk. 

Lately I understood why at the beginning the volunteers were given that task. Other volunteers and Advisor want to know how we solve that very simple problem. 

Eventhough the situation is running out of people to take action, the advisor will not let the new volunteer take on a that responsibility. 

We were taught how to do the task quickly and accurately. After it becomes a habit, then we are trusted to get greater responsibility.

Hospitality Squad ITS International Office 2014 - 2015

Life as volunteer is not that simple of course, many problems happened and I also often get angry by the advisor Mrs. Maria Anityasari.

She will be furious when she know something is not going as planned. She always asks for accountability and the reasons why it can happen.

What I didn't get in other organizations is when I am scolded or in under pressure, She is always there to help provide direction, give advice and motivation to do so.

It makes me able to re-gain the spirit to solve the problems, I did not expect that I spent as long as 2 and half years at ITS International office.

I am very happy to be working with people who are always passionate, have a good personality, who believe in one another, whose people are always reliable.

Maybe this experience can not be an example in all volunteer activities will be like this. 

But one thing is for sure, in volunteering you will work with many people with different points of view who are highly competent and also they have a high social spirit and all of those things is priceless.