Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer!

Dec 22

Over the years there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of volunteerism as applicants are considered for possible admission to colleges and universities. For numerous, positive reasons, being aware of the world around you and being an active participant in helping others enriches a student and benefits local and global communities.

Choose something you enjoy. By doing this, right off the bat a student’s chance of fulfilling a volunteer obligation has a greater chance of succeeding. Being happy is critically important in that it prompts the student to continue to grow in their chosen endeavor and make a bigger impact.

Volunteering is a great opportunity to learn more about yourself while obtaining experience in real life work. Is there a curiosity about a career track that can be explored while volunteering? Does the student have a keen interest in a specific area such as technology, working with the elderly or in museums?

Time and commitment vary depending on the activity. A service project might involve several hours weekly or could fill most of a summer. Volunteers need to consider current and future time involvements such as being a participant on a school athletic team or a member of the school choir and make sure that they don’t start a volunteer project that they can’t finish. Make a commitment that you can keep.

Many schools offer established service programs with community partners and a system for volunteers is in place. Check with your church or synagogue for opportunities. Some athletic teams and youth groups have existing relationships with community-based programs.

Create and initiate a community service project on your own. If you enjoy playing the piano, contact a local nursing home and offer to play the piano once each week for residents. If you enjoy art projects, volunteer at a children’s community center during the summer in the art department.

Service programs can be global too. There are a myriad of programs that relate to meaningful issues such as world hunger and universal conservation efforts.

Throughout high school, keep track of your time and commitment so that you can share this relevant information on your college application. Keep in mind that continuity and depth of commitment are more important than a lengthy “grocery list” of trivial activities.

Volunteerism is a win-win experience. A student connects with others outside of their personal “bubble” and enriches their life through the simple act of helping others. From a college or university standpoint, the applicant is more dynamic and has the potential to be an active, contributing member of a student community.