Volunteering with the VTeam was one of the most enjoyable things about an amazing three years at University, and one of the things I miss the most. Interesting projects that combined my passions was what drew me in and the sense of a welcoming community is what made me continue to volunteer for the remaining two years of my degree.

But not only was it incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable it helped me develop so many crucial skills. It helped me learn how to work in a team towards a shared goal. It helped me practice and refine my ability to effectively verbalize my thoughts to both team members who have a strong understanding of the topic we were teaching in the Coding Club, and to the class of students who did not, and therefore required a different explanation. That skill in particular, has been instrumental. Getting 2 years of practice in translating the thoughts in my brain into effective communication for those with a similar level of technical understanding and those with a lack of that technical understanding was incredibly valuable. It helped me succeed in the interview process for my current role greatly and is a skill I leverage on a day to day basis as a 3rd line support engineer.

So if you have career aspirations to become a software engineer, then volunteering as part of the VTeam Coding Club project is an excellent idea, since the skill of verbalizing your thought process is integral to become a software engineer and is a big part of volunteering in the Coding Club. But if your aspirations aren't to be a software engineer then the VTeam is still an excellent thing to be a part of. The general problem solving, awareness and collaborative nature of being part of a community of volunteers that participate in a varied set of volunteering activities has been instrumental in helping me sculpt my mindset into one that prepares me for working in a professional setting. It provides you with skills and experiences that are incredibly beneficial but may very likely be missing from your University course. Being part of the VTeam wasn't just an opportunity to gain skills however. I wasn't aware of all these benefits when I started, but I still signed up to volunteer. And that's because the best bit about volunteering is just how much fun it is and the incredible people you meet.