Volunteering is often a requirement for many schools, but there are many more benefits besides fulfilling any credit hours needed to graduate! With volunteering, you use your heart to make a difference in others’ lives. Here are five reasons why you should volunteer in college:
- It benefits you as much as it benefits those you’re helping.
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Obviously, you are helping something, someone, or some cause when you volunteer, but did you know that you’re also helping yourself? Volunteering makes you feel good. Through helping others who may not have the advantages in life that you do, it makes you feel like you have a purpose. Knowing that you’re taking a little bit of time out of your day to make a difference in someone else’s is satisfying and makes your heart happy, as well as those you’re helping.
- You can use your experience to help others.
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It is no secret that the process of applying and being accepted to college is complex. As students who are lucky enough to be attending college, we have the opportunity to help those who may not have the support we’ve had to get to where we are. Through tutoring high-school students, advising them on their college essays and applications, we can help make college a real possibility for so many. You can also find organizations through which you can sponsor students’ college application fees or even get involved to advocate for your college to offer application ‘scholarships’ to applicants in need.
- It provides you with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
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Signing up for any volunteer work puts you in an unfamiliar situation where there is so much potential for knowledge growth. You’re learning more about people and causes just by being there firsthand! Seeing what different communities (or even different species of animals) go through opens your eyes and gives you new perspectives. You most likely will gain a newfound appreciation for what you have. You’ll learn so much from the people you volunteer with as well as those you’re helping.
- It’s a great break from studying.
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Sometimes, you become so involved in academic work, and that’s all you seem to do anymore. Volunteering gives you a break from studying while still being productive! It allows you to relax and even de-stress while performing important tasks. Many jobs are simple and don’t require much brainpower, such as sorting clothes in a donation center. You can also find opportunities that are more involved and social, like volunteering at an animal shelter, where you can play with cute animals and help them find forever homes.
- It looks good on applications.
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Volunteering is a true two-for-one, not only can you do this out of the goodness of your heart, but it can also really benefit your resume and applications. Whether you’re applying to a graduate school, a club’s executive board, student government, or a job, volunteering shows that you work because you truly want to help the world and its inhabitants. It confirms that you genuinely care and work hard even when there’s no monetary reward.
Luckily for us college students, there are always an incredible amount of service opportunities, on-campus as well as off-campus! You can usually find volunteer opportunities posted on flyers or sent in emails, and many clubs hold their own volunteering events, too. As a freshman, I’ve already participated in three volunteer days just in my first semester! From packaging holiday gifts for local foster children to cleaning and walking animals at the humane society and preparing meal kits for children in other countries, I have already made so many new friends and learned so much just from these opportunities. I recommend volunteering not only as a way to make yourself and others happier but also as a way to learn more about your community and make new friends.