Volunteerism

I'm a believer in volunteering to do things. Volunteering is one way that you learn and grow at things for which you aren't necessarily known to be competent. Volunteering is as much about self growth as it is about giving back. It's about forming a connection with other people and about doing good for the benefit of others. You can give money, or you can give of your time. Sometimes both are required. Today, I volunteered a few hours to be a judge in an 8th grade class which has designed phone apps. At my work, I "volunteer" as a technical interviewer - the process involves a significant amount of time commitment and judgement - I always try to leave a candidate with a positive experience even if my recommendation is that they are not suited for the position. Now, you might call a part of my job work, but I consider that specific part volunteering -- I'm not paid any better for that time spent, and in some sense it costs my productivity towards what I am being paid for. People skills - "soft" skills are hard for software engineers. Emotional intelligence - that intuitive nature where you can read people and ascertain their intents from body or facial language - I'm not so good at that. But I'm good at asking a technical question, working with someone to find a solution to a problem, and evaluating how well they did at the problem compared with others to whom I have given the same challenge.

So I volunteer. I interview potential colleagues at work. I interview potential students as an alumni interviewer for my university. I volunteered to be a leader of a Cub Scouts pack (for a year). I have even served on a jury. The most precious gift you can give of yourself is your time. My wife is an inspiration to me. She gives so much to her students. Today we voted, went to the gym, and then she signed up to be the VP of Events for our children's PTA next year while I drove her Prius through a Chick-fil-A drive through with the kids. That's not volunteering - parenting is my 2nd job.

Oh, and one of the things we voted on was a historic and unusual ballot measure that I was in the right place and right time to sign to put it on the ballot... I might crow about this later if the measure passes. [Edit: it passed.]