by Cecilia, SEM intern
When I first started homeschooling, I was frustrated that I didn’t have access to as many service and leadership opportunities as public-schoolers. I felt that my resume was lacking compared to theirs; the clubs, service opportunities, and honor societies which public schools offered seemed to be impossible to be part of as a homeschooler. However, I have come to find that within my church, diocese, and community, there are a myriad of truly rewarding opportunities in which to serve and lead. My resume is now jam-packed with lists of activities and initiatives I have undertaken. If you’re struggling to build up your resume, I hope these ideas will help you:
See what activities your diocese (or other dioceses!) have to offer.
I am part of the Antiochian Archdiocese, and I have found many programs in which to participate and demonstrate leadership. Take a look at Teen SOYO’s website, or your diocese’s equivalent. Here are some programs that I know of:
Teen SOYO/GOYA board (often offered on a national, diocese, and parish level)
Bible Bowl
Oratorical Festival
Creative Arts Festival
Special Olympics Pennsylvania
SOYO Day of Service
TRUST Project
Sacred Music Institute - Youth Music Ministries
Orthodox Summer Camps (to be camper or counselor)
CrossRoad Institute
Lampstand Institute (ages 18+)
Iconography workshops
Saint Emmelia Ministries interning
While you should capitalize on opportunities offered around you, it is also important to be creative in starting things up yourself!
If you see a need in your parish, do something about it! Chances are, your priest will give you a blessing to start up a club or service initiative of some sort. Here are some questions to consider: Are the girls in your parish finding opportunities to serve? If not, start a handmaiden/myrrhbearers group! Is your church in need of a weekly cleaning schedule? Would a Bible Study be helpful? Would a book or sports club bring people together? Could you have a babysitting fundraiser or homeschool book sale to benefit the parish/another cause? Does your church have a meal train for new mothers or sick parishioners? Does your church have an official teen/youth group?
Look around at the needs of your parish and see how you can help. This is great leadership. On your resume, you may want to include keywords such as “coordinator,” “initiator,” “leader,” “teen representative,” etc.
Here are some more ideas:
Join the choir.
Serve in the altar.
Host a fellowship hour with your friends or organize a clean-up schedule.
Make prosphora/artos (and organize a baking schedule, if there is not already one).
Organize a team to decorate the church for feasts (cloth changing, flower arranging). Ask your priest if there are any specific needs!
Lead a workshop for the parish or specifically for younger children (on prayer roping, baking prosphora, sewing, etc.).
Sit down with people at coffee hour whom you normally do not talk to and you will be surprised how many opportunities will arise! Just be open!
Work in your community.
Look into YMCA/community programs.
Volunteer at a local library or at any events they offer.
Get a part-time job!
Volunteer at a women’s clinic.
It doesn’t ever hurt to ask if a specific organization/company would be able to accept you as a volunteer or hired worker. People are more open than you may think! It never hurts to ask.
See what service activities your friends are participating in.
Pick up a hobby!
Hobbies show that you are a well-rounded person, which a lot of colleges like to see. You need to show that you are doing things outside of academics.
Learn or further develop a foreign language.
Start a small shop of homemade items.
Take vocal or instrumental lessons.
Take advantage of YouTube as a resource to start learning something new (instruments, cooking, ASL, crafts, etc.)
Start a YouTube Channel or online portfolio.
Pick up photography or videography.
Make activities fit your resume.
Remember that the purpose of a resume is to demonstrate your achievements, not just activities that you took part in. For example, instead of saying something like:
St. Philip Orthodox Church – Volunteer
Maintained candles for services
Antiochian Archdiocese Oratorical Festival – Competitor
Gave a speech on Romans 1:1
You should emphasize the outcome of your work:
St. Philip Orthodox Church – Volunteer
Beautified the parish by cleaning the candle stands and stocking candles
Antiochian Archdiocese Oratorical Festival – Competitor
Researched, wrote, and delivered a speech on Romans 1:1 to a panel of [x] judges and audience, honing skills in public speaking
Thinking about your activities and involvement this way allows you to convey to potential supervisors how and why these activities have prepared you to be a good candidate for the position you’re applying to.
Often, it’s a good idea to include a section for interests. You’d be surprised how potential supervisors might find ways to apply your hobbies to the position you’re applying for! Noting how long you’ve been involved in that hobby shows your dedication, while listing your level of involvement (e.g., “self-taught” or “competitive,” etc.) will speak to your drive. You can avoid taking valuable space away from job and volunteer experience by putting your interests section in a sidebar or as a single line (instead of a bulleted list) at the end of your document.
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It can be tough to undertake something new. It takes courage to reach out to people around you, and resilience to learn from some of the inevitable failures you’ll experience. Ask God continually for help and guidance: ask Him to work through your hands, to move your feet to service, and to show how you can serve with the unique set of talents He has given you. God bless you! (And remember to do all for the glory of His name, not only to make your resume impressive!)