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Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

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Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#1

Post by kuro-kuris »

Hi HN, I enjoyed volunteering teaching children to code back at university and during the holidays I like gathering food for homeless people. What kind of volunteering has helped you grow the most? What kind of volunteering do you find the most fulfillment from?

Discussion about volunteering software skills online: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13678952 I am looking for something more physical or personal in London. Feel free to get in touch to chat more about volunteering, we can grab a coffee if you are in London.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#2

Post by yamalight »

Last year I've started a course on youtube about building products with javascript [1]. The initial idea was to make a free open source course for people who are already comfortable with language, but don't know how to start building things. The coolest (and unexpected) part was the questions I got from all sorts of people - they made me go into the details a whole lot more than I ever did just working on things. And, of course, all the gratitude from people is quite satisfying too :)

[1] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_gX69xPLi-ljVdNhspjZ...

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#3

Post by fredley »

I volunteer for my nearest Parkrun regularly. It has helped become part of a local(ish) community, something that is otherwise difficult to do in London and other big cities. Due to the local demographics, it's well populated by people who are in tech anyway, but it's a good way to branch out of that a bit, and get to know people from different walks of life too.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#4

Post by mattparlane »

I'm from New Zealand and I'm currently living in Thailand volunteering for an anti human trafficking organisation, rescuing children from the sex trade.

I was thrown in the deep end and had to quickly become a Salesforce administrator and developer, I'm now running two Salesforce orgs, as well as all the other stuff we have going on.

I've found it an amazing exercise -- I've grown in patience, understanding of other people, time management, etc... as well as all the new technical skills I've learned.

I was amazed at how doable it is as well. My wife and I have two young girls (5 and 3), and although we were hugely daunted to begin with, we've coped pretty well. As long as you (the reader) have some ability to roll with the punches, I'd give it a go, you'll probably surprise yourself.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#5

Post by vowelless »

I personally don't find any fulfillment from volunteering, nor do I really grow in any direction. But that doesn't bother me. I have a few hours per week usually dedicated to tutoring kids from schools that are not so great. It seems to help them and I have a few hours to spare.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#6

Post by ocdtrekkie »

Several years ago I started doing computer help/repair for seniors. Eventually people insisted on paying me a little for my time. Now, with no formal training, I've been working in IT for over five years.

Some of the neatest tricks I use day to day I figured out while trying to fix a particularly vexing problem on some little old lady's desktop.

I also feel like it's given me a great perspective on how non-technical users interact with PCs.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#7

Post by jonkiddy »

I volunteer as a FIRST robotics mentor, specifically as a programming mentor. I find it incredibly rewarding to see students go from zero to programming hero (from their teammates' perspective). Also, as a web developer, I like the challenge of writing code for a robot.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#8

Post by aerovistae »

I taught a class in Boston on how to program with python, just kind of basic introduction to the language and making simple programs for people who had never done it before or needed help learning.

It deepened my own understanding of python substantially as I prepared for each class by making sure I understood things completely so that nobody could surprise me with any questions like "Why was `self` designed to be implicitly passed but not implicit in declaration?" etc.

Re: Ask HN: How has volunteering helped you grow?

#10

Post by chambo622 »

jonkiddy wrote: post #7

I volunteer as a FIRST robotics mentor, specifically as a programming mentor. I find it incredibly rewarding to see students go from zero to programming hero (from their teammates' perspective). Also, as a web developer, I like the challenge of writing code for a robot.

+1 for FIRST. I'm hooked for life.
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