(Photo credit: centralbrooklynncsa.wordpress.com)
Getting involved in organizations and dedicating time to
volunteering within your community is not only rewarding, but you’ll find that
lifelong connections can—and most times, will—be made. College campuses are a
home to hundreds of organizations, and you can guarantee that you’ll find an
organization that encompasses both your passions and your interests.
Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose in your community. Whether you’re
helping out at a nearby food bank or volunteering with a local Girl Scout
troop, you’ll find that giving back and getting involved really helps give life
more meaning.
So, why get involved? In terms of building your résumé, being a member of an
organization(s) shows that you’re devoting your time in college to something
meaningful, and you seek opportunities to apply yourself and your skills to
something outside of the mandatory curriculum. Find a club or organization that
aligns with your interests, and commit yourself to staying active. Run for an
executive board position! Be a leader. College is the time to map out your
future, and participating in organizations is certainly a great start. On top
of building your résumé, you’re
allowing yourself to have a deeper connection to your university. You meet
students and faculty you wouldn’t normally meet, attend school functions as a
representative of your organization, and have continual opportunities to
connect with the student body as a whole during recruitment expos and
organizational events. Becoming an active member on campus allows you to create
your own unique college experience, and you have the chance to make an impact
on your university as a whole.
Volunteering opportunities are available both on and off
campus. Oftentimes, your organization has it written in their constitution that
the members will commit to a certain number of community service hours, and
they often take trips into the local town to volunteer as a group. Food banks,
the local Boys and Girls Club, and nursing homes are all places that you’ll
find various orgs accruing hours.
Want to volunteer outside of your university? Try
volunteering with a local Girl Scout troop. Not only will you have rewarding
experiences and take unique trips, but you’ll have the chance to impact a
girl’s life, so that she, too, can follow in your footsteps and give back to
the community when she gets to college. And because you’re not too far removed
from the girl scouting age, you have the ability to connect with them, proving
to be someone they can chat with, relate to, and view as a friend as opposed to
simply a Girl Scout volunteer. You have more wisdom than you think you do, and
girls love looking up to someone who understands what they may be experiencing
at their age.
So, how do you get involved? Within a couple weeks of the semester
commencing, be on the lookout for events like Student Org Night. Here, every
organization sets up a booth with information about what they stand for, what
types of events they put on, and why you want to get involved. Don’t be shy;
mingle! Visit each booth (there will be a lot, so keep a record of which piqued
your interest the most) and get to know the executive board and members.
They’ll have a sign-up sheet, so provide your contact information so you can
stay up to date with meeting dates, time, and locations.
Want to join a local Girl Scout troop? Easy! Once you’ve
gotten settled into your schedule, visit www.girlscouts.org/councilfinder
and find the council nearest you! When you sign up, you’ll be ready to get
involved with girls in your area. Volunteering and staying involved create such
a unique college experience—don’t let those opportunities go to waste!
No comments:
Post a Comment