When Emma and Gabriella talk about the Whitby Library, their faces light up with such enthusiasm, it’s infectious. These two remarkable teenagers have been nominated for a 2024 Youth award from the Town of Whitby for their volunteering at the Library. We recently sat down for a chat about the awards and their passion for helping others.
Emma Jane Chester – Grade 10 student
WPL: Congratulations on your award! We understand you were nominated for your work at the Library and as a karate instructor. Can you tell us a little bit about your volunteering?
Emma: Thank you and yes, I volunteer as a helper for children with disabilities at a karate studio. I love working with kids! It’s so rewarding. As for the Library, I love being here. I’ve been a volunteer for two years on the Teen Advisory Council and at FanCon. It feels really good throwing ideas around and working with other people on a whole variety of things.
WPL: What do you like best about what you do at the Library?
Emma: I love being an advocate. I got my high school Principal to put the FanCon poster on the school’s social media. I talk to my friends constantly about the Library and we hang out at Brooklin Branch a lot. I’m a huge reader and just being in the Library feels like a creative outlet. My goal is to get more teens to come here because not everyone knows how great it is!
WPL: You’re known for your leadership, what do you think makes a good leader?
Emma: Confidence! And be open to other people’s opinions and ideas. I’m not really the leader, I just like to come up with ideas and hear from everyone else too. It’s about the team. I just like to make sure everyone is engaged.
Gabriella Dolowy – Grade 9
WPL: A huge well done on your award! You were nominated for your volunteering exclusively at the Library. Can you tell us where you’ve spent most of your time.
Gabriella: Thank you! I’ve been a reading buddy volunteer and I can’t tell you how much I love it. I had one student who was so shy when she started and by the end of the session, we had a total connection. She warmed up to me and her parents were thrilled! She was chatting away and really practised her French with me. I also volunteer on the Teen Advisory Council which is awesome. I’ve helped at the Safety Village, FanCon, and more!
WPL: What do you like about sitting on the Teen Advisory Council?
Gabrielle: I love listening to other people’s ideas and feel their energy. It can take me awhile to formulate and share my ideas but when I do, it’s great to share in the creativity and to contribute. I also love looking at data and figuring out how to target an audience. We did a lot of work on the rebranding of FanCon and it was so exciting.
WPL: Sounds like a potential marketing guru in the making! What do you like most about volunteering?
Gabriella: I love the feeling of serving and helping others! Reading also lights me on fire! I get so carried away with the story and characters that my family teases me about being in “the zone” when I’m reading. I shut out the rest of the world and focus on being transported somewhere else. It allows me to disconnect and take a break.
WPL: What advice would you give to a teen who might be thinking of volunteering?
Gabrielle: Just be enthusiastic! Just bring it. It doesn’t matter if you have tons of ideas or experience, enthusiasm is all you need!
The 2024 Youth Awards were hosted by the Mayor of Whitby on December 10.