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Volunteer Voices: Erika Svenningsen

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IMG_3050About halfway through my first morning volunteering with my soft-spoken and shy nine-year-old reading buddy, Bruno, he looked up at me and asked, “Will you be here every day?”

And . . . I was hooked.

Of course, I had to explain that Barnacle’s Bookworms only meets weekly, but I assured Bruno that every Saturday when it was time to read together, I’d be here.

Since that first morning seven months ago, I’ve only had to miss one Saturday–and upon my return, Bruno informed me that he had read a different book while I was gone so that I wouldn’t miss anything in the book we’d been reading together. And I should add, what we’d been reading together was a graphic novel he’d been so into that whenever I’d flip forward a few pages to see how many were left in the chapter, he would avert his gaze to avoid spoilers. Needless to say, I felt incredibly special that he’d waited for me to keep reading it.

This was exactly the kind of rewarding experience I’d hoped for when I decided to volunteer for Barnacle’s Bookworms. With a background in community development and public policy, I’d worked with kids a lot throughout my college years. Having recently moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to pursue TV writing, I wanted to find a fun volunteer opportunity that would allow me to get back to my roots in working with kids while also helping me feel more connected to my new city. Since I’d previously volunteered at Chicago’s branch of 826 (826CHI), I suspected 826LA would be equally wonderful.

And it has been! I’m so happy to be a part of 826LA, not only because I love everything the organization stands for, or because the place exudes creativity, positivity, and just . . . well, good vibes (I guess I’m officially a Californian now), but mostly because I always walk away from a morning at Barnacle’s Bookworms with a smile on my face. It’s truly a highlight of my week. Getting to see Bruno’s progress over the past seven months–in his reading ability and also in his overall confidence–has been such a fulfilling experience. On top of that, to think that I may have played even a small part in his discovery that books and reading, and even writing, can be fun–it’s . . . I have no words . . . Can I just say good vibes again?

At the last session of Bookworms before summer break, the students were asked to reflect on their past year. I asked Bruno, “So, how’s it been? Do you feel like you’ve gotten better at reading since we started?” He thought about it, then said, “Yes.” I told him I agreed. Then I asked, “And how do you feel about that?”

Smiling, he looked up at me and said, “I’m proud of myself.”

And . . . I may have had to blink away some tears.

Want to join wonderful volunteers like Erika in helping out bring out confidence in our students? Click here to get information on becoming a volunteer with 826LA!

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