Janna               
                                        AW1
                                          Mr Karl           
          September 21st.               
Volunteering Helps Me Grow Mature
Wearing a volunteer T-shirt, I stepped on the stage and began delivering my lecture.  Every day I took the bus to downtown to teach English as a volunteer. That was how I spent the last summer holiday.  Although I did not earn any money, I do not regret because this volunteer experience really has helped me grow mature.
First of all, I have learned how to care about others.  I used to be a girl who only cared about her own affairs.  I did not know how to comfort others.  I even rarely offered help unless someone asked for it.  But as a teacher, I must consider helping my pupils to improv
e and I must ensure that they safely get home every day.  I must care about their feelings when they were in low spirits.  Now I happily find that I have become much more considerate than before.
This experience also makes me know more about our parents and understand them further.  Once I chatted with a woman who is the mother of a girl in my class.  When she talked about her daughter’s study, tears ran down her cheeks.  “I do not expect her to make much money and support us when her father and I are old. I just hope she can have a bright future.  That is all I want. ” I was deeply moved.  All parents are the same, they work day and night to provid us a good future but expect nothing.
During the one month’s time, I have also learned to face hardship bravely.  Every day I got up at 6:00 in the morning and came back at about 8:00 in the evening.  I had to prepare for the next day’s lecture deep into the night.  I  slept for only 6 hours each day.  No matter how heavily it was raining, I just walked out and got on the bus.  It is amazing that I have become so tough and overcome so many difficulties.
Every time I think of the big smiles of my pupils, the difficulties I have overcome and the expecting eyes of the parents, I feel I have done something great and valuable.  Now I have come back to my own campus as a college student and I have grown much more mature.  I must say to you, my friends, if you do something great, you will surely gain something great.