SAANICH, B.C. — When she walked to her first volunteer shift, Taylor Wiles was feeling uninspired.
“I was like, ‘Ugh! Volunteer work!,’” the 17-year-old says. “I would rather be getting paid.”
But she had to do it to complete a high school class, so after considering how she would read to her younger cousins, Taylor signed-up to help elementary school kids with their literacy and was paired up with Triana Gambetta.
“We connected,” Taylor says. “She’s super funny and (we) have a few things in common.”
Not only is their favourite colour green, they both speak Spanish, and relish adventure stories.
“She’s nice to me,” Triana smiles. “And helps me with reading.”
Although Taylor had never been a tutor before, she applied the same work ethic and resilience she’d used to learn figure skating and play three different instruments, and ended-up inspiring Triana to improve.
“Before, I could read little books,” Triana says. “But now I can read big words.”
“I felt really proud of her,” Taylor says.
So, mission accomplished. And after eight volunteer session, assignment complete. But Taylor discovered she didn’t want to be done.
“I felt bad that I was leaving her because I didn’t want to leave her,” Taylor says. “I liked her.”
So Taylor sent Triana a card, encouraging her to keep up the good work, and offering to keep volunteering to tutor her.
“I feel really happy to be able to make somebody else smile,” Taylor says.
So although Taylor’s after-school schedule is filled with skating practices and music rehearsals, she’s committed to tutor Triana every week for as long as she wants.
“I like it,” Triana says. “Because she’s my best friend.”
And Taylor likes it that her little buddy is also teaching her — that volunteering is no longer something she has to do, it’s something she wants to.
“I feel like it’s a good thing to do!” Taylor smiles.
