Pat Troelzsch's interests in teaching lead her to volunteer at Your English School, known as YES. When asked about being a volunteer, Troeltzsch said, "It's the right time in my life." She believes in giving back to the community and is involved in multiple volunteer efforts. She volunteers between 8-10 hours a week teaching English As A Second Language (ESL) for YES.

YES is a nonprofit school that offers ESL classes to international men and women. "The goals and focus are on conversational English to enhance better communication," Troeltzsch said. She especially enjoys teaching women and noted, "I love teaching women who really "want" to be in school."

Troeltzsch finds the value of volunteering in that "you get to see change for the good, and you make friends… The YES School is a great place to volunteer. You can be part of a team that makes a difference and your opinion counts." Her most memorable volunteer experience was when she helped a Georgian woman obtain her United States citizenship. Troeltzsch has also started a new volunteer project working to raise funds for secondary education school for families living in a Ugandan refugee camp.

Tommie Atanasoff, Director of YES, states, "Troeltzsch has been an outstanding teacher and role model for our students for the past 16 years. She often hosts exchange or foreign visitors and serves as a mentor to student teachers of ESL."

For information about volunteering with Your English School (YES) or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.