Monday, July 29, 2013

Why Be A Volunteer?


Photo credit: www.sprypub.com

Did you know that in 2012, the volunteer rate dropped by an astounding 30%? While many do understand the importance of lending a helping hand in the community, large numbers underestimate what volunteering their time to a good cause can do in their life and in the lives of others.  

College is the ideal time to volunteer. It’s so tempting to fill the space between classes and your social life with never-ending naps, but why not use that space to boost your résumé? Aside from being fulfilled, volunteering while in college helps prepare you for an even more promising future.

When applying for jobs, companies and organizations want to see that you've dedicated yourself to something other than what you were required by your university to do. They see that you take initiative by seeking ways you can apply yourself and impact your community, and that gives you an edge over a potential competitor, especially if you’re seeking a position in the field in which you volunteered. Even better is that you’re showing time management skills; you are able to balance class, a social life, a part- time job (if you choose to), and an unpaid position. It’s impressive!

You also never know who you’ll meet while volunteering. Perhaps the volunteer coordinator wants to offer you a full-time position after you graduate? Maybe someone in your volunteer group is in your major, and can help connect you with professors who can propel your academic career? The possibilities are endless, and you’ll meet people who are equally as passionate as you when you spend time doing volunteer work. Those are the people you want to connect and network with while in college!

Finally, volunteering helps shape the person you’ll become throughout and after college. You’ll grow a sense of compassion for others, become selfless, and thrive off of seeing needs in your community fulfilled. You’ll begin to see that change truly begins with you. With just a little of your time and effort, you can change people’s lives for the better. And you’ll slowly notice that one of the people’s whose life you’ll change…is your own.


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