How Can I Help?

I had listened to all of the Ram Dass lectures from the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and I’d read his book with Paul Gorman titled How Can I Help? I was truly inspired. The idea of selfless service struck a deep chord and I knew I wanted to give my time to something meaningful.

I made a quiet promise to myself: once I had a career and was earning decent money, I’d volunteer.

In 2019, I was getting tattooed when an older guy walked into the studio and started chatting with my tattooist. He mentioned something about his volunteering gig and my ears perked up.

“What volunteering do you do, mate?” I asked.

He told me he was part of the L2P program, where mentors help young people aged 16 to 21 get their driver’s licenses by supervising their learner hours. In Victoria, learners need 120 hours behind the wheel before they can sit their probationary license test at 18. The role was called L2P Driver Mentor.

It sounded right up my alley, I loved driving and I liked chatting. But it was more than that. The program was designed for teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a mentor, you weren’t just helping someone log hours you were someone they could talk to, someone they could trust.

I applied, got approved, and started mentoring.

My first experience didn’t go well. The learner told me she was smoking marijuana every day and I knew I couldn’t safely continue in that situation. I spoke to the coordinator and stepped away for a while.

Six months later, I moved to Greville Street in Prahran and decided to try again. I reapplied through the local program, and the new coordinator met me for coffee. We clicked instantly, and soon I was back behind the wheel with new learners.

I ended up volunteering for four years, supporting four young people through their journey to getting a license. Sometimes the drives were quiet, sometimes full of laughter, sometimes reflective. You were just there, not to fix anything, but to walk alongside someone for a little while.

Then, around Christmas one year, I was trying to get in touch with a young woman I had recently taken on. She only needed about 15 more hours to be eligible for her test. I had been reaching out to her to schedule a drive, but strangely, I couldn’t get a hold of her. It felt off.

I contacted the coordinator to explain the situation. Then, while searching online. I discovered something I’ll never forget: she had passed away.

I couldn’t believe it. It completely rocked me. Even though our time together was short, her presence had left a mark. That moment reminded me none of us ever really know how much time we have or how far a small act of care might reach.

You never know what might inspire you on your journey to truth.

For me, it started with a tattoo, a conversation, and a quiet question that stayed in my heart: How Can I help?