April 1st, I felt compelled to commit some time to volunteering at a Junior Achievement Ireland event, happening in the SAP Galway office.
24 fifth year students from a local Galway school (16 to 17 years old) attended the SAP office with two of their school teachers as part of their curriculum. They got to do and learn so much! Including:
- See a real-life office and work situation (with the grand tour!)
- Preparation for future life skills, such as:
- What to look for in an employer, and what an employer looks for in you
- How to prepare for a job interview
- Mock job interviews
- The infamous, SAP free lunch 😃
It really looked like all enjoyed their day – maybe apart from a few pre-interview nerves! Overall, as a volunteer, I found it a rewarding experience. I was paired to carry out the mock interviews with intern, @Gift_Ola – whom on first impression I found to be very caring, smart, and proactive. I had to think to myself, did I ever volunteer to support others when I was that young?
It was such a rewarding experience, especially to see all the happy faces of the secondary school students, when they were leaving.
The reason I felt compelled to volunteer, was that I wished deep down there had been something like this, or more opportunities, when I was attending secondary school (way back when!). I was impressed overall with the organization of the event. Sometimes you have to find your own path in life, and at other times – others will help you a little along the way. One of the key takeaways we gave to the students was the importance of networking – which is also what SAP Community is all about. Volunteering is about giving something back to your own community.
I’m interested to hear what motivates you to volunteer, and you might share a few of your own recent photos?!
@StephanieMarley | @RebeccaOLeary | @Gift_Ola | @KunalBansal | @Ruthvik_Chowdary | @lauraschmitz