I was confronted by one of my clients
this week who seemed convinced that I could not have voluntarily
chosen this year of service. While rolling his fingerprints in order
to request a background check from the FBI, he attempted to make a
pun about how much money I was rolling in. He had been a fairly
obstinate client and it was nearing the end of a long day of walk-ins
in which our waiting-room had been packed beyond seating capacity on
two occasions, so needless to say I was tired. I didn't joke back as
I might have done on a different day, but instead point blank
confided in him that I am a full time volunteer and live off a
stipend of $50 a month (after housing and food and bills are paid of
course). I have revealed this to multiple clients, and very often
while standing over the wet ink pad – apparently my monthly income
is an intriguing conversation to hold during fingerprint rolling –
but I was not prepared for his reaction. His assumption that I must
be volunteering because I could not find a job took me aback – most
of my clients seem to understand and vocalize appreciation for my
desire to volunteer without needing to ask for a reason. Maybe it was
that this client was young (only a year older than myself), or that
he was white, or just that he was grumpy, but as I struggled to
explain to him why I was volunteering instead of working I was
unable to convince him that I was in fact extremely thankful for my
experience with MVS in Rochester. I told him I loved my clients, I
was really enjoying my work, and learning so much – and he
responded with bitter humor that I was learning not to get arrested
in the state of New York (he was frustrated because I had told him
New York State does not expunge anything from your criminal history)
and left.
I am not sure if my client thought any
more of our conversation after he left the office, but I have not
been able to stop thinking of it ever since. Why did I choose to
volunteer with MVS, and are these reasons being met during my time in
Rochester? What does it mean to be a volunteer on behalf of Rochester
Mennonite Fellowship in Rochester? And what exactly am I learning
(besides the intricacies of expungement law in New York State and
beyond)?
I have never thought of MVS as a fall
back plan because I couldn't find a job – in fact I intentionally
decided not to work this year because I wanted to do a year of
volunteer work. I was excited about living into a mission of service,
about actively focusing on loving others in my daily work, and about
a program in which I could meet my basic needs so that I would not
have to worry about finances as I explored social services work and
relationships with the ex-offender population. In some ways MVS was
an internship option, similar to those I experienced within college,
but in terms of vocation, for me choosing MVS was much more than
selecting a year long internship.
I could not be more excited about what I have been experiencing how I have grown so far. I also have so much more to learn and many dreams yet to realize here in Rochester.
yay Bekah! :)
ReplyDelete(How come blogspot doesn't have a like button?)
In those moments when we are misunderstood, when what we're doing is questioned, our motivation crystallizes or falls apart. Way to go, Bekah, and all the best as you continue.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be some people who just don't get the idea of volunteerism.It may be because of life experiences or just plain different values (which of course are formed by our life experiences). However, there is always choices we make in life and how we express these choices shows who we are, what are beliefs and values are. You expressed your values to another who appears not to share those values. In either way the impact is made and it is the person who chooses how to process that impact (again life experience comes into play).
DeleteThanks for sharing, Amazing and proud to share the same genes- only yours are more advanced. I wonder if Volunteerism is a way of crossing over into the upside down kingdom. A difficult way of life to describe at the best of times to those who possibly choose not to or have yet to experience life crossed over.
ReplyDeleteIt's important to realize what a privilege volunteering is. it does indeed benefit us in terms of personal growth, and we are hopefully able to benefit others through our service and solidarity. but taking a year to work without pay is not an opportunity that everyone necessarily has access to, due to their responsibility to provide financially for themselves and others. fortunately, MVS does everything it can to make their programme accessible to people from diverse financial backgrounds. but it's good to give thanks for the opportunity that you have, as you've done in this blog post, and try to understand why people from a different socio-economic class might not be able to fathom why anyone would choose to work for a year without pay. in my work, too, i have had encounters like this. it is especially sad when people can't understand why I would choose to hang out with "people like them" all day. it just goes to show how worthless and forgotten society can make people feel. i know that my work is valuable when I am able to counter that, and show a little love to forgotten people and places. it's beautiful when our work becomes a gift -- to us and others. consider it a privilege :)
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