Trying New Things

yes velcro suit
CultureInspirationSkills

We’ve all seen, or at least heard of the movie “Yes Man” staring funnyman Jim Carrey, or as his parents know him, James Eugene Carrey. Although completely outlandish and (somewhat) unrealistic, the movie has a point. We go through our lives saying ‘no’ to whip on our mochas, ‘no’ to going out with the friend we just met because we are “too tired,” and ‘no’ (or more realistically “NOOOOOO!”) to our mothers when they ask us to take out the trash when in reality we are saying ‘no’ to a lot more than a couple bags of garbage. It’s human to be scared of the unknown, especially when it involves a bit of work. Heck, I’m scared of the unknown. But being aware of your fear and doing something about it are two very separate things. I’m not urging you to give homeless men rides home, but rather, urging you to do something you’d typically decline.

In our day and age, we are accustomed to exerting as little energy as humanly possible when we are not required to do so. Think of all the afternoons that turn into evenings you spend watching Netflix. Who knew there were so many movies that you’ve never even heard of! While it’s relaxing and easy to just lay in bed for 6+ hours after a hard day of work, there is something to be said for trying something new and saying ‘yes’ to an offer to go shuck oysters with a friend.

Want to know the answer to obliterating FOMO? Don’t ever put yourself in a situation where you think you coulda/shoulda/woulda. This is not to say that you should say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that presents itself because I know there are days when I actually cannot handle anything after a day at work and I’d rather lay in bed doing nothing. That’s okay. It’s okay because that’s what I wanted to do, I said ‘yes’ to myself. Woah. Never thought of it that way did ya? It’s all about balance. Don’t you just love how everyone is always talking about balance? Just so you know, I’m no therapist or counselor so I can say I can talk about balance without making you want to roll your eyes. I’m just a human going through my human life learning how to make it all work. I’m saying ‘yes,’ and life is saying ‘yes’ right back. Why not give it a whirl!

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Alvina Zoo Photo
CultureEducationSkills

I used to work in a zoo. Yes, a zoo. While this may seem silly, bizarre, or abnormal, I learned a lot from being around seals, baboons, and alpacas. I would have never expected that volunteering would be useful for me, but it was a quite the experience.

I went to a high school that required community service hours, and most students fulfilled this by working at the local library or at a senior service center. Bor­ing! I wanted to work somewhere fun, something new and unexpected. After some searching around, I found out that the local zoo was in need of some volunteers. After an interview in the wallaby (tiny kangaroo) pen, I was accepted immediately and began spending my Saturdays hanging out with Brooke the sheep.

I was volunteering once a week that summer. Because of the free time, I was able to dedicate myself to learning the materials I needed to teach visitors about our variety of birds and mammals. Best of all, I didn’t need to worry about school. Volunteering over the summer lets you really give your all, so take advantage of it.

The reason I wanted to volunteer at the zoo was because it was a first­time experience. I’ve never, ever worked with animals before. All I’ve ever had was a pet goldfish! I was worried that someone (including the animals) would get hurt, and a part of me was a little afraid of them.

The great thing about volunteering is that many places are often willing to teach you what you need to know. They probably know you’re new (after all, you’re only in high school) so don’t worry about not knowing how to send that official e­mail or handle the Twitter account. If you can’t get a job because you lacked the skills, volunteering at a nonprofit can help you gain those skills. Volunteering opens you up to new experiences and lets you learn things that might come in handy later.

Another reason I wanted to volunteer was because it would allow me to try something I’ve always wanted to try (but never could!). I like being outdoors and teaching. Yet, I never quite found something in the neighborhood that allowed me to do that. Now that I’m in college (and deciding on majors, and looking for jobs, and all that “adult” stuff), I know what and who I want to work with. It turns out that I’m great with kids, but I’m not so helpful on a stage. Volunteering lets you find out what you like or don’t like, and that’s good too!

So this summer, go out and volunteer! If it’s three days a week, or just an hour or two on a Tuesday night, it doesn’t hurt to try. You’ll learn something new about yourself and hopefully enjoy yourself as well. Have fun!