Volunteers come from every background, every personality type, every academic level, every culture. And that diversity is what makes volunteering powerful.
The idea that only high-achieving, confident young people volunteer ignores the truth: volunteering is often the place where confidence is built, not a requirement for participation. Many volunteers start out shy, unsure, introverted, or lacking experience. Through their time in youth programs, camps, workshops, and teams, they develop leadership skills naturally. They learn how to speak in groups, how to solve problems collaboratively, how to take responsibility — all through practice, not perfection.
In the YMCA, some of the strongest volunteers and future youth workers began with self-doubt. They thought they weren’t “good enough” or “experienced enough.” But volunteering doesn’t ask for perfection; it asks for willingness. A willingness to show up, to try, to learn, to support others. And that willingness is far more important than any grade or personality type.
Volunteering provides a safe space for young people to grow. It doesn’t measure success through scores or achievements. It values effort, kindness, teamwork, and authenticity. Volunteers discover strengths they didn’t know they had: empathy, creativity, patience, leadership, humour, responsibility.
The myth that volunteering is for the “best” young people is outdated — and damaging. It discourages those who might benefit the most: young people who need confidence, belonging, and opportunities to develop. The truth is, volunteering provides exactly that.
Volunteering is for everyone — the introverted, the energetic, the quiet thinkers, the dreamers, the planners, the doers. Every type of person has something to offer. And every volunteer enriches the community simply by being themselves.