Creating Passion Through Volunteer Experience

Rachel O'Malley

McKay Student Ambassador

Elementary Education

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The best way to discover if you want to be a teacher isn’t by watching inspirational teacher movies like Dead Poets Society or being stuck inside a college class all day—it is by actually stepping into a classroom and experiencing it for yourself.  Volunteering in classrooms has been the most influential experience in my journey toward becoming an elementary teacher and I highly recommend it to anyone considering going into an education program. 

During my freshman year at BYU, I decided to join the Tutor Outreach in Provo Schools (TOPS) program, where I signed up to work in a 4th-grade class at Edgemont Elementary. Every Friday, I bravely entered the classroom, armed with nothing but my volunteer badge and a love for teaching, ready to tackle fourth-grade math. Little did I know, explaining fractions to a room full of energetic nine-year-olds was going to be equal parts rewarding and entertaining. The more time I spent in the classroom, the less scared I felt about becoming a teacher and the greater desire I had to love and serve these students. 

Being inside a real classroom, with walls covered in colorful artwork, students eagerly (or sometimes reluctantly) participating in classwork, and a constant excited buzz in the air, made me feel right at home. No college class could have prepared me for the exhilaration of teaching quite like volunteering did. It gave me an unfiltered look at the daily life of a teacher, strengthened my passion for teaching, and confirmed that I want to spend my career helping young students grow. 

Gaining Real-World Experience

Learning from textbooks and lectures can be limiting, which is why volunteering in schools allows you to see firsthand how teachers manage their classrooms, adapt lesson plans for different student needs, and create positive learning environments despite various challenges. In my BYU classes, we learn about how students approach math problems, but seeing it firsthand in the classroom brings those concepts to life. Watching students work through problems in real time gives a true sense of how they think, struggle, and problem-solve, which is invaluable for building the skills and confidence needed as a future teacher. By watching skilled teachers in action, assisting with small group instruction, and interacting with students in a meaningful way,  I have been able to start to understand the realities of being a teacher. It can also help you develop teaching skills such as patience, adaptability and communication. 

Building Relationships with Students

One of my favorite parts of volunteering is forming relationships with students. Whether I am helping a child sound out a difficult word or encouraging them to keep trying on a tough math problem, I have seen how even small moments of support can build confidence and transform a student's learning experience. One student I worked with struggled with trying to answer problems on her own. By teaching the importance of letting yourself learn from your mistakes, her confidence improved and I got to witness her mindset shift and a love for learning develop. These moments reinforce my desire to become a teacher and dedicate my career to helping students succeed. 

Confirming Passion for Teaching

A significant impact of my volunteer experience has been the confirmation that teaching is the right path for me and what I want to spend my life doing. Every time I step into a classroom, I feel a sense of purpose and excitement. I love the energy in the air and interacting with young students to help them learn. Seeing the impact that teachers have on their students’ lives has motivated me to pursue a career where I can make a difference every day.

For anyone considering a career in education, I strongly encourage volunteering in a classroom. It provides a genuine perspective into the profession and helps you decide if teaching is the right fit for you. Volunteering in schools has solidified my passion for elementary education and had made me even more excited to have a classroom of my own someday. 

Volunteer Opportunities For BYU Students: 

• Access (EL ED)

• Adaptive Aquatics/Gym Kids (SPED, PETE)

• Adaptive Show Choir (SPED)

• Adaptive Needs Institute (SPED)

• Anatomy Academy

• Athletic Connection (SPED, PETE)

• Best Buddies (SPED)

• Boys and Girls Club

• BYU Special Olympics (SPED, PETE)

• Cougar Coaches (PETE)

• Conexiones (TESOL)

• Creative Connections

• Early Learning Essentials (ECE)

• Foster Love

• Junior Achievement (EL ED)

• Junior Nutrition Academy

• Kids on the Move

• Lead

• Leaders of Literacy (EL ED)

• Medallion Manor (SPED)

• Partners in Music (Secondary Ed)

• Project Sunshine

• Project Youth (EL ED)

• Provo Youth Mentoring

• Scenic View (SPED)

• Seeds of Success

• Sports Hero Day (PETE)

• TLC

• TOPS

• United Angels (SPED)

• United Way Community Centers

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