On a rainy November morning as I fumbled through my application forms. I could never have predicted where my volunteering with Scottish Refugee Council would take me – I had only heard about them earlier in the year at my honours course in Immigration and Asylum law.
As with most volunteers, I was motivated by a general interest in asylum policy, a thirst for expanding my knowledge and a hope that I would be useful to Scottish Refugee Council’s clients along the way.
An integral part of the team
And so I began volunteering – and after a whirlwind period of training courses and exposure to the many difficult issues like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and human trafficking, I felt I was an integral part of the team.
As chance would have it, in May 2011 an opportunity presented itself when the Young Scotland Programme was opened up to a delegate from Scottish Refugee Council. I jumped at the chance – submitting an essay about human trafficking. And fortunately I was selected for the programme!
What followed was an inspiring and stimulating week in Stranraer meeting like-minded young people from Scotland and Ireland. I was honoured to take away a runners-up award for my essay presentation, which has provided a valuable addition to my CV.
From Glasgow to New York
In 2011 I also started thinking about what the future might hold for me. Having graduated with a law degree; the economic climate did not make adequate provision for the many newly graduated lawyers. With an eye on other options, but a firm knowledge that I wanted to work in immigration law, I cold contacted a few firms in New York (the first port of call in ‘the land of immigrants’) and enrolled in the NY Bar Exam.
Good fortune provided me with a job with Wildes & Weinberg, P.C.; a firm who practice exclusively in all areas of immigration law. I have now switched volunteering for a career; but have not abandoned my civic duty; because I am now enrolled in The City of New York (CUNY) Citizenship Now where I provide free immigration law advice to those looking to attain US citizenship.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my experience at Scottish Refugee Council; and I don’t just mean that it helped me to get a job. I am richer both culturally and educationally – and I now have a desire to give back to the community.
Enrich your life and the life of others
Life provides many chances and opportunities are there to be seized. In turn, good karma is capable of rewarding you greatly in life, and that’s exactly what happened to me.
Volunteering is hugely rewarding. All it takes is giving a little of your free time to enrich your own life as well as the life of others.
