The very first volunteer summit that Amberly attended as a Regional Marketing Representative was in Las Vegas in 2019, and with everything being so new, she mostly remembers the nervous excitement of meeting West region team members and other national volunteers in person for the first time. Further inspired by the workshops, team-building exercises, and city explorations, she came out of the summit even more excited to be a volunteer and about the work she could accomplish in the upcoming year. 

“I’ve realized that the people you get to work with come and go, but the connections, genuineness, and supportive spirit of SASE’s members remain and keeps us connected,” she said. “It’s reassuring to know that if you have a question about a field you’re interested in or an initiative you want to start in SASE, there’s always someone who’s enthusiastic to talk it out or connect you to someone who is. The Adult Table podcast is an example of that (shoutout to our awesome team!). Jenny Cheung and Jason Chin had the idea to start a podcast for the SASE community and young professionals, and I joined soon after to help with marketing since their goals for the podcast resonated with me.” 

Looking back, Amberly has discovered that the volunteer year can go quickly or slowly, depending on how deeply one immerses themselves in their role. “Don’t be afraid to raise a question or opinion, and experiment with different ways to fulfill your role responsibilities, like starting new traditions or refreshing old standard operating procedures.”