My Experience Volunteering: Hathaway-Sycamores

By Sophia Movsisian ’21

For over a year and a half, I have been volunteering as a tutor at Hathaway Sycamores Child and Family Services. Hathaway Sycamores is a child mental health and services agency with many locations all throughout Southern California. For 115 years, Hathaway Sycamores has provided many services, such as residential treatment, foster care and adoption, transitional living, mental health care, grief counseling, educational services, and more, to families and children in need.

As I volunteer, I help children who are not as privileged with the same opportunities as I have. As a longtime volunteer, I can say with confidence that I have enjoyed every minute of it. I love seeing the children’s faces light up with joy— even if it is due to the smallest of things such as completing a problem on their homework. The feeling of accomplishment that they feel has a big impact on me and it helps me realize how grateful I should be for the education I have been provided at Immaculate Heart.

As a tutor, one of my favorite things to do there is to help the kids with the questions that require the most problem solving. I do this by looking over the work they do not understand and helping them figure out a personalized strategy that will help them better comprehend the difficult material. I find that this allows for a connection to be made and a bond to be forged between me and the student.

I believe that helping students with their education is really important. I take what I learn at Immaculate Heart and use my knowledge to aid others. Volunteering at Hathaway Sycamores is very gratifying and serving others is something I love.

I am so grateful for everything I have learned and hope that others find ways to make a change in their own communities.

If you are interested in volunteering at Hathaway Sycamores, you can find information at their website here:

http://www.hathaway-sycamores.org/about-hathaway-sycamores/

photos from hathawaysycamores.com