Student Volunteer Experience at ReConEx

 As a part of our DE&I initiative to create meaningful engagement for all members, we created volunteer opportunities for current and potential student members to participate in ReConEx. They attended planning calls leading up to the event to understand what it takes to pull together an event of this scale, and assisted with the registration and room set up on site to gain a behind the scenes perspective of event planning. 

 

Here is their insight gained from the experience:

                            

 

Gia Nikuze (Hospitality Management Major, Montgomery College, MD)

 

I personally enjoy helping people and trying new things, so when I saw the opportunity to volunteer at the ReConEx conference, I did not think twice about it. Volunteering in my opinion can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and for yourself, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity.

 

Participating in the preparation process was amazing; from weekly meetings to setting up the day of the event. I got to see all the steps and how challenging it can be, but the final result was worth all the stress. Being in this experience also made me realize that having a great team is the key to success. The way the team was supporting each other led to the success of the event. The success of any organization depends on how well its members communicate and handle tasks together.  I really learned a lot and am so grateful that I was given this opportunity. Because of this event, a desire to work in the event planning field grew in me, and for that reason I am taking another semester at Montgomery College to receive a certificate related to meeting management/ event planning.

 

 

Abadi Asfha (Hospitality Management Major, Montgomery College, MD)

 

My duty as a volunteer student was to help with the registration process. At 7 a.m., I started helping with setting up the table, the name tags, and notebooks for the participants. When the guests arrived ,we helped them with finding their name tags, handing them the notebook and explaining to them the floor plan.

 

After we had done the registration, I was able to join the meeting while the panelists were sharing their experiences and knowledge, their successful journey, and how they overcame their obstacles. This voluntary service was so helpful as it provided an opportunity to learn from the panelists as well as from the team. One on one conversations with Dr. Assegid and Ms. Rhonda Keys gave me valuable insight and guidance.

 

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to participate in your organization, that was a wonderful experience for me as it directly relates to my education.