My daughter volunteered with one organization from age 11-15 (approximately 250 hours total) and earned the gold presidential service award (certificate, and medallion from Obama and all), during 8th grade. In 9th grade her volunteer hours with that organization tapered down to only 30 hours annually, and she began a different line of volunteer work. My question is, when writing up her resume, should she include mention of her presidential service recognition? It shows her character but she thinks 8th grade anything is irrelevant, and therefore should be omitted. She thinks she can bring it up in an interview but to omit that part of her volunteer work in her reume. What do you think? The experience lay the groundwork for the nature of all her volunteer work to date.
I agree with your daughter on this.
If her current volunteer work is connected in some way to the previous activities, then write them up together. It’s great to be able to demonstrate that kind of longevity and depth of commitment! That’s far more meaningful than a smattering of shallower involvements that look like they’re only about building a resume.
If they’re not really connected, though, then yeah, it may look a little weak to harken back to 8th grade.