Amitoj Singh brings his passion for speech and debate to his volunteer time at KidWorks.
Each time the Portola High School sophomore arrives at KidWorks, he plays an integral role supporting our three “Program Success Strategies.”
In particular, our February “Volunteer of the Month” helps us prepare students to be “life ready,” which we’re focusing on in this month’s eNews and blog stories.
“Not every school has the resources to offer public speaking and debate experiences to students, and KidWorks gives me the platform to help fill this gap,” he says.
“Conducting public speaking workshops at KidWorks University has a special place in my heart as I am very passionate about speech and debate and compete at National Circuit Tournaments,” Amitoj says. “I want every student to have a voice and the confidence to express their opinion.”
(Editor’s note: KidWorks University is a series of volunteer-led immersive workshops for kindergarten through 12th grade where volunteers share skills, talents and hobbies in the areas of art, science, music, dance, creative writing and more.)
“Amitoj is great with the students he teaches,” says Rachel Cervantes, Arts Coordinator and Program Leader at our Dan Donahue Center. “He makes each one feel included and confident as they practice speech and debate. Amitoj organizes his workshop time very well, teaching students new concepts and then letting them model these concepts in actual speech and debate sessions.”
Adds Rachel, “Amitoj’s speech and debate workshop is so valuable to the students because he teaches the skill of communicating effectively. The critical thinking that goes into speech and debate prepares the students for life outside the classroom.”
A volunteer since September 2018, Amitoj has worked with students at our main Donahue Center, as well as at our Bishop Manor and Cedar Evergreen satellite centers. In addition to the workshops he’s led, he’s also been a tutor and helped out with our summer and spring break programs.
Amitoj is so passionate about KidWorks’ students and our mission that he’s formed a “KidWorks Club” at Portola High School, which has raised funds and recruited KidWorks volunteers from his school. A successful boba beverage fundraiser in January was his latest outreach.
The “leadership development” aspect of our Program Success Strategies is one Amitoj is particular well-suited as an inspiration for our students. He served as student body president at his middle school and freshman class president at Portola High School.
Says Amitoj, “These leadership experiences have taught me that a good leader has the following character traits, which I pass on to KidWorks students: self-confidence, being friendly and approachable and having a willingness to learn.”
In his spare time, Amitoj enjoys being on the varsity tennis team at his high school, listening to rap music and making rap videos and playing an Indian percussion instrument called the tabla. He plans to major in computer science and business.
“I want to run my own company, building technology to benefit society,” Amitoj says.
Amazing role models like our February “Volunteer of the Month” have a lifelong positive impact, and we are deeply grateful for Amitoj and everyone who shows such dedicated commitment to our students and their families.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer