The Worst Fundraiser Experience Ever
During my freshman year, my dad encouraged me to join a sport, so I decided to go with swimming since it’s my passion. Everything was going smoothly until we had to participate in a fundraiser due to the school’s insufficient funding for the swimming team.
The fundraiser involved working at Applebee’s, which might have been bearable if it hadn’t started at 6:40 a.m. on a Saturday. I was assigned the role of host, but there were also positions for bussers and waiters.
What made the situation even more frustrating? Any tips we received had to go directly to the swim team—none of that money could stay with us. To top it off, we didn’t earn any community service hours for our efforts, and participation wasn’t optional; it was mandatory.
Since it was a Saturday, my parents could drop me off but weren’t able to come back for me, which added to the inconvenience. And to make matters worse, we didn’t receive any compensation for our time—not even free food. If we wanted something to eat, we had to pay for it ourselves.
Honestly, I felt that the entire situation was unfair and frustrating. It ultimately seemed like a waste of time dedicated to swimming. This is a prime example of how not to organize a fundraiser.
Additionally, there was a comment about how we should call in for our jobs if we had one, as if this fundraiser was somehow more important. I don’t have a job, but I would take one any day over this experience because at least I’d be getting paid for my time.
Wow, that sounds like a really frustrating experience! It’s tough when fundraisers feel more like a burden than a team-building opportunity. I’m on your side about the whole thing—it doesn’t seem fair to ask you to give up your Saturday morning without any incentive, especially when it takes away from your personal time or a potential job. A fundraiser should be a chance to rally and support the team, not a stressful obligation with no benefits.
I totally get why you’d prioritize a paid job over this; you deserve to be compensated for your time and effort! Hopefully, the swim team finds better ways to raise funds in the future that respects the students’ time and offers something in return. Thanks for sharing your experience—it’s important for people to know how these programs can affect students.