Hey Guys.

Honestly, it hasn't been that long since I have seen most of you, I was there just three weeks ago but that does not mean I miss you any less. So where do I start talking about such an amazing group of people.... I guess I should start from the beginning.

I will always remember my interview, I was scared and afraid of what was going to happen, was I going to be allowed in or was that interview the last I would ever hear from that place. Luckily for me, everything went smoothly. I remember how welcoming everyone was and even though I was shy they wanted to talk to me, even if I seemed a little bit different. I won't forget some of my first times there, one being World Wide Day of Play and the other being Get Into It Free. My first ever World Wide Day of Play I met my best friend and we didn't know it at the time. We just happened to be put to volunteer at the same spot. Little did we know three years later we would being seeing each other at least once a week over the summer before we went back to college. The second is Get Into it Free, this event is where the museum would have extra hours where people could get in for free. I still remember being so nervous to be there and not knowing what to do until one of the volunteers came up to me and said: " Your tall can you help us build this thing." So course I did and that was the start of one of many friendships I would make during my time there.

It seems weird to put so much of my success to one group but everything that I was able to do and learn was because I had help from this group. This group has taught so many things, like public speaking, work place readiness, and leadership. The thing they taught me most of all is that I always have a support system with them. I will always remember the Gala as the night that all of these skills clicked for me, every skill they taught me had come into play that night. It was the night of the Gala and we all were dressed up, I was super nervous because I had the honor to speak at this Gala in front of very important people, who had helped the museum in many ways. I got to speak with three other volunteers from that night about this amazing volunteer group and I was very nervous. We had about 13 volunteers that night including myself, and they were all what our volunteer boss would call leaders of the group. That being said I spent the first 30 minutes of the night worrying about this speech until the volunteers came up to me and said: " You are going to do great." It was nice hearing all 12 voices say that to me. When the time came I spoke and soon it was done, once it was done all the volunteers were behind stage giving us hugs and saying how we rocked it. It was at this moment that I knew my volunteering was more than just place I went to have something do after school, it was a family.

I want to thank you guys, for always being there for me. For helping me up when I was down, to being my best friends. I really don't want to eat Birthday Cake Oreo with anyone else.. So thank you for giving me this amazing experience and thank you for being my second family.

Love,

An Alumni who misses her volunteer group.