A Volunteer Story about Growth, Learning, and Leadership
From Mesut
When Mesut first started high school in Canada, everything felt unfamiliar. He was just starting to learn English, he barely knew anyone, and it was a tough transition. “It kind of felt like a slippery slope,” he recalls. “I wasn’t finding it meaningful.”
That began to change when he joined the Pathways to Education program. Through tutoring sessions, he met amazing volunteers who not only helped with academics, but also inspired him with their own stories. “They helped me shape my own future,” he says.
Mesut built confidence, made friends, and grew into a top student. Once he graduated and entered University, Mesut came back as a volunteer tutor. “It felt like a responsibility,” he shares. “I wanted to give back, because others helped me when I needed it most.”
At first, he thought tutoring would be easy. After all, he understood the subjects. But he quickly learned that teaching is more than knowing. “You need tools to deliver it. Communication. Leadership. Patience. Empathy,” he says.
Mesut had to figure out how to explain things in ways others could actually absorb.
“There’s this aha moment when they eventually get it – and I get to witness that firsthand. It’s truly rewarding.”
From the very first day, tutoring helped him build confidence – not just in his academic skills, but in who he was becoming. “It led to some great personal growth in me,” he shares. The leadership, communication and confidence he gained show up in his University studies, his job with the City of Kitchener, and in his everyday interactions. “It’s not just helping with my tutoring role,” he says. “It’s learning how to lead, how to listen, how to connect and (it) affects all aspects of my life.”
Mesut still makes time to volunteer every week, even with a full class schedule and a busy job. “This isn’t something I want to pause. I know the impact I’m making. I know the personal growth I’m experiencing. It’s something that’s irreplaceable. I know I have a lot more to offer, and a lot more to learn from them.”
For Mesut, volunteering started as a way to giveback. But it quickly turned into much more than that, it helped him discover his own strength.
