In my opinion, education equality is one of the most important issues facing the world today, because education is what allows us to all start out at the same level and have the same hope for success. As Michelle Obama said, “The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in that door and take your seat at that table – all of that starts with education.”
Because of my passion for education, I am part of a nonprofit organization called Let’s Get Ready, which helps underserved students get into and through college via a free SAT and college prep program and has a multitude of resources for students applying to and in college. Although I personally feel strongly about education equality, there are thousands of other nonprofits out there to join and I encourage you to get involved in one.
Here are five reasons you should either volunteer for or in some way get involved with a nonprofit organization:
1. You will foster or find a new passion
Even if the nonprofit you join is something you’re only somewhat interested in, joining it will likely foster a passion in you because you’ll realize how important the organization’s work is! And if the reason you are joining it is because you are already passionate about its work, you will learn so much more about the organization and the injustice or inequality that deems the nonprofit necessary.
2. You will make new friends!
By joining something that you are actually passionate about, you will meet people who are just as passionate about it and will learn from them. Furthermore, if you are a committed member, volunteer, or employee of the organization, you will see your coworkers often and create an intense bond with them!
3. You will learn how to be patient and flexible
Nonprofits are inherently uncertain as to how everything will go, because they often rely heavily on volunteers and have many moving parts. Therefore, you will learn how to handle situations that go wrong (and they WILL likely go wrong at some point), which will make you more flexible and less flustered when things go wrong in life in the future. Also, since you’re working with so many people, you will learn how to be patient and work well with different personalities.
4. It will allow you to be creative
Oftentimes, nonprofits are flexible in terms of how things go. In fact, nonprofits require creativity to make the organization better; working with a nonprofit will challenge you to come up with creative ways to solve problems and fulfill your mission in a more efficient way – by saving both time and money. It’s a great skill to have.
5. You will make a difference in the world
Rather than spending your evenings watching Netflix and doing nothing, you will be productive and helping other people, the environment, or other creatures in the world for a morally good cause. Whether you work for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Alzheimer’s Association, or ACLU, all completely different nonprofit organizations, you will somehow help make the world a better place; hopefully someday, the need for the nonprofit won’t be there anymore. And that good deed is something that will leave you feeling both good and proud of yourself.
Overall, joining a nonprofit can be a very rewarding experience and help you discover what you care about in life! I encourage you to get involved in some capacity. And if you don’t know where to start, here are some suggestions you can look at:
Good luck, and go make use of your status as a college student to help other people! :)