In an interesting side note I am a volunteer with Girlguiding UK in my local city.  Guiding is something I did when I was a kid, I was a Rainbow and a Brownie and a Guide too.  I left Guides when I was 11 or 12 because it became distinctly uncool.

Since those days Girlguiding UK has been making efforts to modernise the system and the styles of leadership and achievement.  And since I’ve started Psychology and learnt how important positive influences at that age are on development it’s something I really wanted to get involved in.

It’s something that can fit to most people, from 12 hours a year, to one and a half hours every week of school term.  I do the latter, and I love it.  Through being a Young Leader I am gaining my Leadership Qualification (which used to be called a Warrant) and that means I can run a unit all by myself if I want to.  (A unit is the group of Guides, the equivalent of a Scout troop).

I love getting to know the girls, and seeing them achieve and be proud of themselves for their achievements.  I have seen girls who are older members of the unit go from disruptive and difficult to wonderfully helpful and very good role models to their younger counterparts with some frim but fair direction.  And it feels great to know that they look up to me and I can help them in some way to grow as people.  I feel that in hindsight I really missed that when I was that age, and it’s wonderful to be a positive role model myself to girls who are older and respected by younger Guides, but still young enough to not be sure where they are going in their lives, or their views.

If you have any spare time, it would be really great to volunteer some time to a cause you feel worthwhile, be it volunteering in a hospital or a school or with animals or anything!  It’s a great feeling to know you’re helping someone and making a difference to their life.