When volunteering, it is important to volunteer for things you love. For some, it can be working at a food drive or helping out at an animal shelter. For junior Dipti Patel, she enjoys helping teens share their feelings as a part of Teen Lifeline. 

Talya Gabay: When did you start volunteering for Teen Lifeline? Why?

Dipti Patel: So I started volunteering at teen lifeline in July. I wanted to do it because I think it’s really important to help people, especially teenagers, who are our age, and help them get through things like high school and family and home life. 

TG: Why do you feel that this is important?

DP: I think it’s important because a lot of teenagers, we go through a lot of mental health [issues] in our school and in our homes. And I think being able to help them and being kind of an outlet so they can talk about their feelings. And I think I really like teen lifeline because they don’t know who you are; we have code names. I think it’s nice that they can’t be judged by us. We’re not allowed to give advice; it’s like they’re making their own solutions, and we’re just guiding them and helping them.

TG: What is your job at teen lifeline?

DP: Whenever you get a call, you just pick up and tell them your code name, and then just let them talk about whatever they want to talk about. They’ll eventually tell you what’s bothering them the most. Then you just guide them to find their own solutions. If it’s something serious like suicide, we will call the police if they need to be involved. Most of the time it’s less serious than that. 

TG: How has this changed your perspective on mental health and suicide?

DP: So actually before I started, I knew that I wanted to kind of pursue a career in psychology. Another reason I joined was because I wanted to do something in the future about mental health. And I think I’ve learned more about mental health in general because they teach you about mental health. So I think that I’ve become more open to the idea of mental health, and that it is very current, and it’s always around you.

TG: Do you think volunteering for teen lifeline has made you a better version of yourself?

DP: I think I have become a better version cause I’ve learned that giving advice isn’t always the best solution. They taught me that sometimes you don’t need to give advice; sometimes you need to let them talk and tell you what’s wrong and let them find their own solution. So I think I’ve learned that within my friend group. I’m not always like telling people ‘Oh, you should do this cause I think that’s the best thing.’ I ask them what they want to do first and then guide them through it. So in a way I’ve become a peer counselor to my friends.

TG: How has this changed your life? 

DP: I feel like I’ve been putting more time into something I really love. And also the community at teen lifeline is so much fun because they’re all teenagers like us. We have candy, food, and watch movies. So we just chill and I feel like I’ve made a family there. They’re all super nice and very understanding. So I think the best thing about it is making a family there, and our overseers are also really awesome because they can always help us with our problems too.

TG: What other services do you do?

DP: I’m in Mayor’s Youth Commission in Chandler and Teen Advisory Counselor for the library. Mayor’s Youth Commission is a small youth council. We just help out the community. We volunteer at events, and we tell the city council what we want to do for the teenagers in our community. And Teen Advisory Council is just helping out the library create events for little kids.

TG: Why do you volunteer?

DP: I volunteered to help the community. I think that’s always the main point of volunteering, and I also think it’s a great time to volunteer. I have a lot of fun, and I’ve made a lot of new friends while volunteering because they’re all my age, and I know more people now. 

TG: How do you feel about volunteering?

DP: I think it’s a great thing. I think volunteering is a good way to use your time instead of just staying at home. I think volunteering is super fun and it makes you a better person, you become more involved within the community, and you meet new people. I think by volunteering I’ve met so many people; like I have a group of people that if I need anything I can talk to my different group of friends.

TG: Why do you think volunteering in general is important?

DP: I think being able to put in your time and help other people is really good and I think just even going out there and telling somebody you want to help them it just helps someone else’s day and makes them happier and I think in general it’s a great thing.

There are a number of different ways to give back to your community. Serving others does not need to be a chore. Any service will not only leave the people you serve in better shape, but it will teach you more about yourself and the role you play in your community.