BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) program is a week-long summer camp that helps high school students explore careers, build leadership skills, and gain real world business experience through hands-on learning.
MBV relies on the help of more than 150 volunteers between both sessions. One of those volunteers, Esther Gfrerer, has volunteered with MBV for the past two years as a business plan judge and a mock interviewer.
She started volunteering after her daughter attended MBV three years ago. She witnessed the diverse friendships and connections her daughter made, but more importantly, the she saw growth in her daughter’s confidence. She said, “It’s such an important program for this generation, so they can be prosperous and confident in themselves before they’re sent into the real world.” This year, Esther’s son also attended camp for the first time.
As Esther volunteers for a second year, she continues to find inspiration from the students themselves. She mentions often to her own friends, “I’m raising the next generation by doing more interviews and I absolutely love it!” She offers encouraging advice to students and hopes that her interviews were able to provide meaningful feedback and unlock students’ inner potential.
When looking back on her volunteer experience, her message is simple: every volunteer effort counts, and even the smallest contribution can go a long way toward helping others.
[Esther volunteering as a Business Plan Judge (left) and a mock interviewer (right).]