Volunteering is a vital aspect to any human life. Volunteering means donating your time for a worthy cause, and expecting nothing in return. Looking back on where you are now, there is probably somebody that greatly influenced or helped you along your journey. A great way to pass on your knowledge, or gratefulness is to help the next person in line, and be somebody that makes an impact on the life of somebody else. A lot of times, people don't need your money, or objects, they only need your time. Time is the most valuable thing that anybody can donate, because it cannot be replaced or repaid. Volunteering means spending less time on yourself, and giving some time to causes outside of yourself, and it makes you feel like a billion dollars.

Here are five reasons why volunteering/ giving back is the best thing you could do for someone else and yourself.

1. Make a meaningful impact on someone who looks up to you

Something that I always remember, although she may not, was the time a girl named Alex taught me to jump rope. I was in elementary school, and Alex was a year older than me, so obviously I thought she was über cool. But, I also used to think that the older kids were a little intimidating, so I avoided interactions with them. Then one day, I was out jump roping(more like making a fool of myself, because I am very uncoordinated), and along came Alex and her friends. She asked me if I knew how to jumprope and I said that I didn't. (Okay, I did know how to jumprope, I just was not very good, and hoped she could boost my skill level so that I could show off.) Then, she grabbed a jumprope, and broke down the basics for me while she demonstrated. To this day, I still remember how much I value Alex for taking her time to show me jump roping, because I looked up to her so much.

If you can recognize even one person this week who looks up to you, and take some time to talk to them or teach them a skill, I can bet that they will never forget it. It is the most simple gestures that make the biggest impressions, especially on little kids.

2. Meet new contacts/develop marketing opportunities – you never know where it might take you

Through volunteering you might just end up meeting a very important person who helps you achieve something significant in your life. Life has a funny way of working, and often times if you happen to be in the right place at the right time, your life could change. Besides making new friendships, and contacts, you could end up finding out that you love the work that you tried while volunteering. Maybe you volunteer at the hospital, and realize that you want to be a clinical psychologist because you are intrigued by the human mind and behavior. There is so much to discover, you just have to go out and try it. Be open minded, and the world will blossom for you.

3. Makes you step outside of yourself and your comfort zone

It is easy for us humans to get so caught up in our own lives, that we forget that there are other people. There are billions of other people out in the world, facing different challenges than you, with different resources than you. If you step outside of your life, and issues, you will realize how minute your troubles really are. Volunteering can be weird, and uncomfortable while you are getting used to it. You are in a new setting with new people, and maybe you're doing this type of work for the first time. You can feel out of place, and like maybe you've made a mistake. But, once you warm up to the people and work that you do, it feels normal again. Being pushed off the boat of comfort makes us learn how to tread water in the uncomfortable and new. Step outside of your comfort zone, and volunteer in an area that you are unfamiliar with. Or, if you want to volunteer with something you know you'll love, then pick an organization that has special meaning to you. If you feel very passionately about feminism, and women's rights in foreign lands, then volunteer with Peace Corps or some other global group.There is a fit for every person in volunteering. Volunteering is great training for jobs, and can even teach you some very valuable work skills too!

4. You have to give back in order to move forward

Volunteering makes the world go 'round, and that includes you. Many companies, and events, rely on volunteers for very important work. Volunteers are just superheroes who learn skills along the way, so yes, volunteers do matter. It is so important to give back to the community you live in, and the world that you live in. If you pay back those who helped you, and pay it forward to someone else, you will always get it back. You cannot expect to go through life without some help from others, so you have to be willing to do the same. You cannot move forward without looking back and repaying what others have done for you. The best way to say "thank you" is with your time.

5. It makes you feel so good about the way you spent your time and what you've done

IM GOING TO TYPE THIS ONE IN ALL CAPS, BECAUSE I FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS. VOLUNTEERING MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DID SOMETHING TANGIBLY GOOD FOR THE WORLD. VOLUNTEERING ALSO MAKES YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS HOPE FOR THE WORLD, AND THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY. AFTER VOLUNTEERING YOU WILL PROBABLY FEEL AS IF YOU CAN CLIMB MOUNT EVERST IF YOU WANT, AND YOU CAN. AFTER YOU GIVE THREE OR FOUR HOURS OF YOUR TIME TO A GOOD CAUSE, LIKE HELPING SERVE MEALS AT A SHELTER, YOU WILL FEEL WONDERFUL. PLUS, IT HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN THAT PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER ARE MORE HAPPY, AND GLOBALLY AWARE THAN THOSE THAT DO NOT. VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY. DO GOOD, DO VOLUNTEERING! VOLUNTEERING JUST MAKES YOU FEEL SO GENUINELY GOOD ABOUT YOUR ACTIONS, AND THE WAY YOU SPENT YOUR TIME. LIKE ,"WOW I SHOULD CALL MY MOM AND TELL HER WHAT GOOD THING I JUST DID, BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ME RIGHT NOW" GOOD.

VOLUNTEERING IS JUST THE COOLEST THING EVER. THE COMMUNITY, AND WORLD NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO HELP THEM DO THE FUN AND NECESSARY THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO. VOLUNTEERING WILL OPEN UP YOUR EYES TO SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME THAT YOU VOLUNTEER. GO AND VOLUNTEER BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

(One of my goals this school year was to volunteer more, and encourage others to do the same. I will volunteer with at least one MDA walk, and one ACS walk. (Muscular Dystrophy Association, and American Cancer Society) I want to become more involved in the community, and make a meaningful difference to somebody. I'm writing this goal here to inspire you, and also to hold myself accountable for this goal.)