What comes to mind when you think of a volunteer? Is it Katniss, from the oh-so famous "Hunger Games" movie series? The Tennessee Vols, whom I admire for their recent football success? Or just a person doing community service for getting into trouble or breaking a law of some sort?
Well, I volunteer. Not as tribute nor Vol but as a Bonner Scholar. Regardless of why we do or do not volunteer, I want to share with you some of the things I have learned as a volunteer scholar.
My list of woes, benefits, joys, and how-to steps of volunteering:
Woes
There are many great and wonderful things about volunteering, but it comes with its woes as well! My volunteering experience has been at thrift stores, a nursing home and schools to name a few, and these are the woes to come with volunteering at these types of places.
Uno: The leading woe of volunteering, in my opinion, is getting too attached! I love getting to know the people at each of my volunteer sites, but once you get your hours completed, you have to make a choice... Quit volunteering because, after all, you are done, or keep coming to help the organization (and the people that you've gotten attached over the time span)? Feeling guilty for leaving may occur, and if so, go back if you want to and can.
Dos: Another woe is having a bad perspective as to why you're there volunteering in the first place. Some people have a lack of motivation because they feel less obligated because they aren't employed by the volunteer site. Others may feel that there being used by the company. If you have to volunteer and do not enjoy it, do it with the end in mind: "I only have 70 more hours and I'm out of here." If you're someone that enjoys volunteering, then this isn't always your category of concern.
Joys
Uno: Getting to know the people you volunteer with, as I mentioned above, is super important and has potential to be one of the top joys of volunteering! There are so many great people out there and you could be working with them every day, but how do you know? Just talk to them. Show interest. Usually there is someone really funny there! Nothing like some humor to help the time go by.
Dos: You don't have a set schedule. Getting to come in when ever you want and leave when ever you want is an incredible joy! I like to come as much as I can and get a ton of hours to finish them as quickly as possible. But if this isn't you and you want to come in for only an hour...or work night shifts opposed to morning, that's up to you.
Benefits
There are endless benefits to volunteering. If you do a good job, you may have someone to write a good letter of recommendation for you or be able to use them as a reference. Another benefit is the likely-hood of being accepted to volunteer at a particular place. Most places will allow you to volunteer for them, especially if they need the help because it's free work.
How to get started
It's not a hard process at all. If you have to get service hours for a particular program or reason, you might have forms, which the site you wish to volunteer at has to sign. If you just like volunteering and are just doing it out the kindness of your heart, there may be an agreement that you may have to sign for the place you wish to volunteer. It's as simple as that.
For all potential volunteers: Work hard and have a good time!
