Volunteering and community: Interview with Karen Webster

For the past eight weeks we have had two Mercedes College students, Maddi and Bella, undertaking Community Experience at Coventry Library, Stirling.

Maddi and Bella expressed an admiration for our volunteer community and a desire to know more about what volunteering at a local library can mean for individuals and communities alike.

They interviewed one of our dedicated Stirling volunteers, Karen Webster. Read Bella’s reflections on their chat below!

Volunteering and community

An interview with Karen Webster shared by Bella, Year 11 student at Mercedes College

During our community service spent at the Stirling library, we interviewed a volunteer, Karen. During the interview, we asked many questions relating to Karen’s journey and impact in the community. 

To start things off, we asked Karen why she started volunteering. She recounted memories of her mother volunteering which influenced her to take a similar path: “I started volunteering as a teenager because my mother was a volunteer,” Karen recalled.

She then informed us about where she started and how she made her way to here at the Stirling Library. “I started volunteering in the church, but I’ve been all around. I volunteered at the Red Cross, helped out in sports like netball, tennis, and softball.” 

Something Karen said that really stuck with me was that “the things around you make you who you are.” This message was so eye-opening to me. The more we talked to Karen, the more we realised we have in common. Despite life aspects such as age where we differ, Karen reminded us that we are all still human and that it is important to treat everyone equally.

Karen also shared with us her philosophy in life, “I believe that you can learn something every day.” This was inspiring to hear from someone who had consistently devoted their time to the community and helps provide insight into what it means to serve well as the personal benefits of volunteering.

During the interview we realised that Karen is a role model for younger generations, living her life selflessly and staying true to her morals and what make her who she is. 

After interviewing Karen, it changed the way I felt about community. No matter where people come from, deep down we all share the common theme of humanity, and it is important that each generation remembers the power that community holds.