Every year, Minnetonka Schools students and community members apply for and receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award, an award that honors service and giving back to the community through volunteering. One student at Minnetonka High School, Rekaa Gomez '28, has dedicated many hours of service to the Como Zoo and Conservatory ​​as a nature walk guide. In this role, she helps welcome and educate visitors about Como Zoo. 

Gomez found this opportunity as a result of her long standing love of nature. When visiting the zoo with her family, she inquired about any opportunities for teenagers to volunteer. Within a couple months, she was working on her written application, and soon she was returning regularly as a nature walk guide.

Gomez notes that a large part of what draws her to volunteering is the people she meets and the experiences she is able to help create. “I love seeing the way you can inspire people to learn more,” she shared. “Watching people look at the world with childlike curiosity and yearning for knowledge never ceases to amaze me, especially when I strive to learn more every day just like them.”

Her advice for others looking to get involved in volunteering is to take the initiative. “Give your realest, most authentic self, ask questions, and be curious. When you find somewhere you really enjoy and want to learn about, look into it. You need to take the initiative and be willing to put yourself out there,” she shared. “Oftentimes, I go into opportunities completely nervous, but a smile and 'Hi, my name is' goes a long way and you might find yourself in a place that feels like ‘This is where I'm meant to be.’” 

For Gomez, that passion is teaching and talking about nature, but she knows that it’s different for each person. “Find your passion, be curious about it, and see where it leads you!”

Thank you for your commitment to service, Rekaa!

To find volunteer opportunities tailored by grade level and interest area, visit the Tonka Serves webpage.