Salina Tesfamichael was nominated as Volunteer of the Month for her work volunteering with Disability Action in Islington. We asked Salina a few questions about her work with the charity!

What does a typical day of volunteering look like for you?

"Every Tuesday morning, I arrive and say good morning to everyone (a crucial step in starting your day right) and then I begin to respond to emails, answer phone calls (where I listen to everyone's needs and let them vent), and correctly signpost them. In the afternoon, I assist clients with form filling and get to know parts of them they may have otherwise been reluctant to share with a stranger."

What is your main motivation to volunteer with Disability Action in Islington?

"Knowing that I can make a difference to someone's day - everyone loves a smile and a genuine interest in their life, and those that have it the hardest, need it the most. The worst thing you can do is try!"

What have you learnt from your time volunteering?

"I have learnt so much from my time volunteering at DAII from becoming exposed to disabilities I hadn't previously been aware of, to the different kinds of benefits and services available to people with disabilities. This role has also introduced me to the disabled community and the multi-faceted struggles they face on a daily basis which even then varies greatly from person to person. I have loved every aspect of my role and can't wait to continue learning about the community (and me) through it!"

What would you say to anyone thinking about volunteering?

"Do it, 100%! As students, we always think that we should be studying more, revising more, preparing for our future more, but what about setting time aside to discover ourselves more? You can't be your best self if you don't know who that is. Find what you love. Find what makes you happy. Surprise yourself. Volunteering does exactly that - it's your time and all your choice (and it makes you feel great). Experiment. I got lucky and fell in love with DAII from the start but, as I said before, the worst thing you can do is try (and even then, you'll find out what you don't like!). To those of you that already know what you love, find a role that supports that cause and do it! Don't think twice about it. Nothing can replace first-hand experience. Let it shape you. Grow with it."

A big thank you to Salina for sharing that with us! If you know a volunteer you'd like to nominate to be recognised as volunteer of the month please go to this form!