The Rewards of Long-Term Volunteering: My Journey with Braven

April was #NationalVolunteerMonth, and it provided a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the countless ways volunteers strengthen our communities. Through our partnership with Rutgers University - Newark , volunteers have empowered students by helping them discover and utilize their unique strengths and leadership abilities.?

I recently spoke with Alexandra Almore-Díaz , a volunteer Leadership Coach with Braven . She shared that her experience coaching a group of five students was incredibly rewarding. She made an incredible observation about the experience as a long-term commitment for a semester in service to students and their personal and professional development. She remarked that hearing their stories and witnessing their growth firsthand was genuinely inspiring.

Alex emphasized that volunteering is not just about giving, but also about receiving. Volunteering can help people develop their strengths as well. Alex admits that by volunteering, she was able to improve her facilitation skills, become more adaptable, and further refine her ability to provide constructive feedback. These qualities are essential for being a good leader and Alex believes that volunteering can make a good leader even better.

I encourage everyone to consider giving back to a cause they care about. You might be surprised by the impact it has on both yourself and the community you serve!