I joined the Rotary community as an idealist. I was fresh out of high school, looking for a way to volunteer. Don Kerley, a Rotarian from Glen Waverley RC, helpfully pointed me in the direction of a soon-to-be-chartering Monash Rotaract at the time.
When first joining and in the midst of university, when time was easy to give, and there was a group of young people with similar values for the first time in my life - I thrived. I went from quivering 1-minute speeches at RYLA, to being the MC at a District Conference (knees still shaking at this point), to presenting a breakout at RICON in Melbourne. I went from PD Director, to Club President, to Chair of Rotaract Australia. Rotaract and then Rotary, has grown with me. My involvement has surged when I have more time, and as now, when my priorities lie at home, it has lightened. I’m grateful for the flexibility in that, as my belief in what we do has not changed.
Undoubtedly, there was growth…..
And undoubtedly a whole barrage of skills that spanned personal and professional spheres. But I think the biggest and most enduring aspect of my experience was that my idealism didn’t die. Rotary walks the talk with its integrity and values, it learns and aspires to keep pace with what the world needs, and the work being done is truly making a difference. I doubt there are many organisations where that young idealism can survive in the same way.
In a world where uncertainty and conflict are growing, I believe being a Rotarian is being part of a movement towards peace. I hope we can reach other young idealists, and keep our peace-building movement growing.