(Posted 2023 November)
Meet Shravani Bojja, ADAPT Volunteer
Tell us a little about yourself. What is your professional background?
I am a South Asian immigrant and a U.S. citizen. I have been residing in Fairfax County since 2006. I am a mom of two wonderful teenage boys. I am a trained lawyer, and I have worked as an immigration paralegal. Currently, I am an IFS-informed, certified trauma recovery coach.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love gardening, doing diamond paintings, listening to music, and reading.
How long have you been volunteering? What led to your initial desire to volunteer and serve others?
I have been volunteering with the county for almost a year now. The purpose of raising awareness about trauma was the initial desire that led me to volunteer.
What interested you in volunteering with Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services?
My own experience as a child and growing up in an environment of violence were the main factors that interested me in volunteering with Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.
What is the most challenging part of volunteering? How did you overcome this challenge?
The most challenging part of volunteering is taking care of myself through the stress and burnout that usually come with it. I overcame this challenge by having a good self-care plan after every session.
What’s the best part of volunteering? Share your most memorable experience.
The best part of volunteering for me is to support individuals with understanding, provide compassion without judgment or bias and hold space for individuals who are going through a lot of upheaval in their lives. My most memorable experience would be the last ADAPT cycle, where all the participants echoed each other’s sentiment that they felt respected and valued throughout the 18-week class.
What has been your favorite training? What did you like about it? What did you learn?
My favorite training would be the volunteer Tier 1 training. I really liked the in-depth focus on trauma and its devastating effect on an individual. As a trauma recovery coach, knowing the county I reside in focuses on being trauma informed is a matter of pride for me. I really enjoyed learning about the different aspects of Fairfax County’s various DSVS agencies, as well as about the justice system.
What are your three greatest strengths? How have you been able to display and use these strengths when serving others?
My three greatest strengths would be compassion, active listening, and meeting individuals where they are at present. As a volunteer of the ADAPT program, all these strengths have really supported me a lot. Being compassionate and really listening to the individuals opens the door for meaningful discussions. When I am meeting individuals where they are at present, it shows them there are people who really care about them. The way I display them could be as small as giving them a smile or leaning in while they are talking, or it could be just thanking them for trusting me with their story when they share it.
What advice do you have for people who may be thinking about becoming a DSVS volunteer?
Being a DSVS volunteer is an amazing experience. However, it comes with a huge amount of compassion fatigue, and it’s easy to burn out. Having a good self-care plan is a must. Also, having an open mind is a good thing. Remembering that trauma changes a person’s ability in so many ways helps us volunteers to support without judgment or bias.
What do you wish you could do more of as a volunteer?
I would like to talk more about complex trauma and the various reasons trauma can affect a person’s life. Bringing awareness to the topic of trauma and manifestations of trauma is something I am passionate about.
This article posting is part of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services' Volunteer Voices monthly newsletter for current and potential volunteers. If you're not already a volunteer, learn how to get involved. Find out about upcoming trainings, volunteer trainings, happenings around the DSVS office and information about articles, books, media recommendations and more.
Learn more about the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS).