It takes a large team of dedicated, talented volunteers to make the Learning Buddies Network a success. In this series of posts, we’ll introduce you to some of those people! Today, our featured volunteer is Valentina Ramírez, a 19-year old in her first year at UBC. Valentina has been a mentor with LBN since 2020.

When it comes to volunteering, Valentina draws off her childhood experiences. “Having a little sister gave me the opportunity to go back to my childhood and relive the enchantment inside every story. Reading is not only about pronouncing the correct words, it is about feeling empathy with each character, being intrigued by the plot, and being able to connect other universes with your own,” she reflects. As a reading mentor, she and other mentors give their buddies the tools to “develop their own curiosity and travel confidently to explore their own questions through books”. Learn a bit more about Valentina through our interview below!

What have you most enjoyed (or found particularly rewarding) about your experiences volunteering? What are some of the things you do as a volunteer?

My main motivation for volunteering with LBN is witnessing the dramatic improvements of a child in the way they approach a situation (ie. reading a long/tricky word). We want the child to understand their own strengths and progress. I love when the children realize their own mistakes and are able to correct themselves based on the methodology learned in previous LBN sessions. The learning process is not made up of directly receiving answers; here, we construct them together. Reading is not a race; it is a voyage, an exciting voyage, of self-reflection and dedication.

Do you have a particularly memorable moment or story from your time volunteering?

I will never forget when one child was browsing through all the books in our catalog and she opted for a non-fiction book. She loved it and after that meeting, we ended up reading an endless list of interesting facts. This taught me that there is no strict standard for learning, especially reading comprehension. Every child has their own taste and style. For them to feel comfortable and really enjoy reading, it is necessary to understand their enthusiasm and inquisitiveness.

What are some of your hobbies or other things you enjoy doing?

Apart from reading, my favorite activity is playing instruments.  Whether it is a cello or the harmonica, I am always looking to learn a new song or inquire more about their histories. I also love watching documentaries and sitcoms, particularly Friends and Modern Family.

Do you have a favourite book or movie? 

My favorite book is Le Petit Prince and my favorite movie is Peter Pan (all the versions). Coming of age novels remind me that we should not feel guilty of remembering our memoirs and the amusement hidden in the small details of life.

What are you looking forward to for 2021?

I am looking forward to meeting my buddy this term, reading a new book, exchanging crazy fun ideas, sharing phonetics techniques and continuing in this marvellous process.

Valentina also keeps busy with many other activities outside of volunteering with Learning Buddies. She is a Junior Editor for the IONA Journal of Economics, which publishes high-quality undergraduate research in economics. As a Junior Editor, she helps evaluate research papers and provide feedback to potential paper-writers. She is also involved in the Colombian Student Association at UBC as a First Year Representative and serves as a Rover in the Colombian Scout Association. In her free time, she collaborates with a friend’s YouTube Channel by playing piano. 

To close off our interview, Valentina would like to remind us of the importance of involvement with this poignant quote [dubiously] attributed to Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do”. 

Thank you for sharing your time, experiences, and words of wisdom with us, Valentina!