Jingyi Ye, Volunteering Officer, tells us about how volunteering helped her settle into the UK and all the fun she has had along the way
Being at UCL has been particularly rewarding. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge but also made bunch of best friends in my life. And more importantly, I have the chance to do the things I really enjoy.
Volunteering was a way to become more familiar with a new community
I became interested in volunteering during my first year. Coming to UCL was also my first time travelling to a foreign country, and I had to settle all by myself.
I was trying to find something that I could do to get myself more familiar with the local community and the society that I was going to be a part of for the next three years. Since I started volunteering, I feel like I am using my own strength and knowledge to help other people and make the community a better place.
I want to help international students feel at home by getting them involved in volunteering
UCL has a lot of international students, and I thought that there may be a lot of other students who face the same problems and challenges I did when they come to this city for the first time.
I want to show to other students that there is a way you can become more familiar with your community and also give something back to others – this is what drives a lot of what I do.
Volunteering has profoundly impacted my life
It's not just the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment from helping others and contributing to society that I cherish.
Through volunteering, I've acquired a wealth of transferable skills and forged friendships that will last a lifetime.
The journey has been immensely rewarding, and has allowed me to leverage my strengths and learn from my experiences.
Everyone is exceptionally welcoming
Although starting out in volunteering can be daunting, the support from staff members and fellow volunteers ensures that no one feels isolated. This sense of belonging and unity within the community is what I appreciate most—it truly feels like a family gathering, where everyone is connected and supportive.
We ran our first ever festival-themed volunteering socials
This was our first attempt at creating a new way for volunteers to gather, share experiences, and forge friendships.
I believe this new social format can bring volunteers closer together, foster a sense of belonging and show everyone that they are not alone on their journey. We are always here to listen and support each other.
This experience taught me the importance of embracing new ideas and the willingness to experiment. The result was immensely rewarding and reinforced the value of innovation and the courage needed to break new ground and introduce fresh concepts.
We can’t wait to make the volunteering service even bigger
I am excited about the potential for personal growth and the further development of our Volunteering Service in the coming years.
I am confident that with the creativity and dedication of the outstanding volunteers, we can enhance our service significantly. This will make UCL an even more inviting and rewarding place for students to engage in volunteering.