Robert Chen – Even High School Students Can Volunteer!

Dive: Good Samaritan - Volunteer
Description: Volunteers time to help others
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Has volunteered at least 5 hours
Certified On: May 16, 2020

Editor’s Note: On all dive certifications, we try to edit the writing as little as possible to preserve authenticity, personality, and writing style. We typically fix spelling errors, but minimally modify grammar and sentence structure (just enough to ensure readability).

Name: Robert Chen Break Diving Level: Level 1 Number of Certified Dives: 5 From: United States In: United States

1. When and Why Did You Decide to Pursue This Dive At This Level? What was your inspiration and motivation?

Initially, I wanted to see if I could make an impact on the world. Being just a high school freshman at the time when I joined Break Diving, I wanted to prove to someone that I could do something, that I mattered. However, as time went on volunteering, I realized it was less about the impact and more about the experience. Volunteering has allowed me to meet so many new people that I would never have encountered in my everyday life. Of course the result matters, but I think it’s more about the journey.

2. How Long Did It Take For You To Accomplish This Dive At This Level From The Day You Decided To Pursue It, And Why Did It Take That Long?

The requirements for Level 1 aren’t too hard. You only have to volunteer for a total of two hours, making it doable in one session at a local school for example. However, at the same time, this low bar of entry should be encouraging. You don’t have to commit your life to volunteering: it only takes two hours of your time. Might as well give it a shot, right?

3. What Was The Hardest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The hardest part is starting. For me, before I started volunteering, I was very confused about the process and how to even get started. Luckily, I found a few companies on VolunteerMatch and went from there. Honestly, taking the first step is the hardest part. Once you get into it, volunteering is actually quite enjoyable.

4. What Was The Easiest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

Once you get started, volunteering is a very rewarding experience. You get to work with a team that will try and fit your needs. The time requirement for this dive specifically was also quite low. With only two hours required, you can get this accomplished in just one day. For example, dropping in to a local charity to help out for a day.

5. What Is Your Advice For Someone Who Is Pursuing This Dive And Level?

Communication is one of the most important parts. Even if you don’t know everything, the important part is that you know how to learn and improve. However, you must also communicate this properly to your team, especially if you are having difficulties–communication is key to resolving those difficulties. With proper communication, anything is possible.

6. What Are Some Of The Best Resources You Recommend to Those Pursuing This Dive At This Level, And Why Do You Recommend Them? Please Include Relevant Weblinks, If Applicable.

One of the best resources, especially for people starting up is VolunteerMatch. You can find it by going to h ttps://volunteermatch.com/. From here, you can create an account, and then quickly search for volunteering opportunities. It’s search features are very advanced too. You can specify what kind of a position you want, for example local or remote.

Resource 1: Break Diving - You can volunteer here.

Resource 2: Volunteer - This site is where I found out about Break Diving to begin with.

Resource 3: -

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

7. Tell Us A Story Of One Of Your Adventures While Pursuing This Dive (At This Level).

This is a story of my first few days volunteering.

Initially, I had found Break Diving on VolunteerMatch. It looked pretty interesting so I sent Monroe Mann (the executive director) an email.

I was only a high school freshman at this time, so everything was completely new to me. To my surprise, I actually got a response back. After a few emails back and forth, we set up a call and talked about my experience. Although I had some computer programming experience, I was still learning.

The great part about volunteering here at Break Diving is that the team will try and work around your unique skillset, and adapt to you. I didn’t actually start volunteering until a few weeks later, when I got onboarded to the team and added to the organization’s GitHub and Slack.

The first few weeks were very hectic, as I had to learn very fast to get up to speed on the proper procedures. After a while though, it became second nature.

I remember one of my first contributions was editing the breakdiving.org website. Hard to believe, but at this time the breakdiving.io site, and also this WYSEguidance blog, weren’t even setup yet. We were working on very priliminary projects like TOSFairness and breakdiving.org.

After making my changes, I looked everything over multiple times. I didn’t want my first contribution to get rejected!

Luckily, everything went well and it was merged.

Gradually as I contributed more and more, I grew in confidence.

Looking back, once you get used to the coding conventions and styles, it becomes easy to contribute. The most difficult part was the onboarding. Now I’ve been here at Break Diving volunteering for nearly two years!

8. What Evidence Did You Submit to Prove You Met the Requirements for This Dive and Level?

All of my team members on the Break Diving volunteer staff can vouch for my contributions. Executive Director Monroe Mann also signed off on this certification. You can also see my name on the breakdiving.org staff page!

9. Will You Be Pursuing The Next Level For This Dive? If Yes, Why? If Not, Why Not?

Yes, I will pursue the next level for volunteering. It has been a very worthwhile experience, and I have learned a lot from it.

10. What is the Break Diver's Creed?

No Rules. No Excuses. No Regrets.

Certificate photo:

And having made this post, and provided adequate evidence to the dive committee, Robert Chen is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Good Samaritan - Volunteer - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 39

The author above wrote this WYSEguidance post as one of the certification requirements to become certified by Break Diving, Inc. for a dive completed. Would you also like to find greater success, happiness, and friendship, and make genuine supportive connections with others around the world pursuing your same dreams? Come join us at Break Diving and soon your story will be the next one you read about on this site!

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