Providence Day School's Jasleen Kaur ‘22 recently received two Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) recognizes the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action. Kaur earned Gold for 100+ hours of service work in 2019 in the "Teens" category and Silver in the "Young Adults" category by volunteering for 175-249 hours in 2020. Her awards were delayed due to a computer error and the pandemic, so she received both of them in the summer of 2020.

Kaur shares her experience here.

“For me, I see the privilege I have and use that as my inspiration to serve those in need. I am passionate about advocacy work and creating equitable futures for people, motivating me to volunteer and give my time in any way I can. Something I have learned while volunteering is that not only am I helping my community, I also improve my own abilities and character through these experiences.

“I decided to apply to the Presidential Volunteer Service Award not to obtain recognition for myself but to hopefully encourage others to consider volunteering as part of their routine and not as an obligation. While I know many of my peers are incredibly busy with academics and extracurriculars, I hope they remember how important it is to give back however we can. What I think is amazing about volunteering is that there is so much opportunity to give back, no matter your interests. Especially now, COVID-19 and the ongoing racial and social justice movements exposed major problems in our systems, strengthening my commitment to service. I have realized that now more than ever it is important to all work together and volunteer our time and money to help those around us. By taking small steps individually, we can then create a better world for all of us.

“My volunteering reflects my various interests which include the medical field, advocacy work, and education. Regarding my medical experiences, I have volunteered at hospitals, free clinics, and blood drives. I currently serve as a co-leader of Providence Day's Red Cross SOS club and helped coordinate logistics for the PDS drives last year. Due to the ongoing national blood shortage, I have continued volunteering my time on weekends at various Red Cross blood drives across the city. Working with a primary care doctor, over the last four years, I helped administer free medical examinations on residents at Charlotte Rescue Mission's A Dove's Nest, a rehabilitation center for women with chemical addictions. Being able to be a part of giving hope to women looking for a second chance was an eye-opening experience for me. 

 “Another incredible medical volunteering experience was with Atrium Health's Sardis Oaks nursing home, where I worked in both the Activities Department and with the physical and speech therapists. Within weeks, I formed personal connections with the residents and faculty there and even with the families of who came to visit. As someone who wants to go into medicine, this experience showed me how caring for a patient is so much more than simply diagnosing them; it is also about genuinely being invested in them by not only supporting the patient medically but being there for them as a person.       

“Through some of these experiences, I’ve learned the importance of advocating for others. Since freshman year, I’ve been volunteering my time on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Youth Council (CMYC), which voices students’ concerns to community leaders. Currently, I serve as the vice president of this organization. As a result of the increase in social justice movements over the summer, I co-organized a virtual town hall for students addressing racial inequities within Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Additionally, with the challenges remote learning presents for the majority of CMS students, CMYC has been essential for providing student feedback and new ideas to CMS officials. The work that we do on the Youth Council keeps me grounded and reminds me of the importance of using my voice to uplift others. 

“Besides medical and advocacy volunteer opportunities, I have also volunteered as a tutor. One of my best teaching experiences was through Providence Day's Reaching Refugees SOS club at Galilee Ministries, where I tutored refugee students in English and math. I loved helping these eager kids, and the applicability of skills required was meaningful to me. This opportunity taught me how to patiently explain concepts in multiple ways that make learning more fun and relatable. In addition, I formed relationships with the students outside of tutoring them, and their desire to be good students to eventually help their families succeed was amazing to see. 

“While COVID-19 has made it more challenging to continue my volunteering, I am still able to give my time through virtual tutoring with student-led groups like Peer2Peer Tutors. The experience of virtual tutoring has been difficult to navigate, but these opportunities are incredibly important to me. With the ongoing pandemic, students have an acute need for additional resources, so receiving tutoring lessens the stress for students and their families. While it makes me feel good to give back to others in my community through volunteering, I recognize that there is so much to learn and experience from the world around us. Seeking out volunteer opportunities helps us all grow to understand and support our communities in better ways.”