When someone talks about going to volunteer in their free time, more often than not the other person’s first follow up question is “what are you doing that for?” As college students, volunteering one’s time has the stigma of completion for a certain end. College students who volunteer their free time are in search of work experience in a certain field or boosting their resume. Volunteering is an accessible avenue for both of these ends. While these are legitimate ends to have for volunteer work, I have experienced volunteering with a more open end and gave of myself, well, just because. Here are three things you can gain from volunteering with an open end.
1. Time not about yourself.
College is known as one’s time to be selfish. This type of selfishness includes taking the classes you actually enjoy, traveling the world, and figuring out who you are along the way. So while almost every moment of a college student’s day is encompassed by worrying or stressing about their future, it’s invaluable to have time not about yourself. Volunteering offers students this opportunity.
Many non-profits greatly appreciate willing students to help them with mundane tasks such as cleaning or organizational assistance. While these duties are not direct service, these tasks matter. With a broader perspective, one can see how simple tasks keep the non-profit running efficiently.
Furthermore, it is important for our generation to see the value of acting out of personal intention rather than with the hope of external recognition. Oftentimes, our generation is consumed with their personal image -- through the style of their clothes or their presence on Instagram. Unglamorous volunteer work has the ability to bring one out of the center of their world.
2. Expand your knowledge of your community.
Many college campuses function as a bubble. Your basic needs, friends, and occupation are all in the same place, therefore it is not surprising many students rarely feel the need to leave. Although many colleges dominate the small town they are located in, it is important to know the others who consider the town their home. What issues does the community beyond your college campus face: drug abuse, hunger, or homelessness? Through service you can learn about these issues and what is being done to counteract them.
3. Mean something to someone.
As a consistent volunteer, you get to know the people who work and are served at a non-profit. When volunteering with kids, you have the opportunity to be a constant source of support and fun in their lives. Through these new relationships, you learn the value of accountability and see how your consistency creates positivity in the lives of others. In turn, these relationships provide you with support. In our sometimes unstable college lives, it is nice to feel needed by others. After muffing up a quiz or struggling through a presentation, it is reassuring to spend time helping someone else (not to mention, something you can’t screw up). It is uplifting to recharge by helping others whose problems are much larger than your grades.
In college, the grueling weeks can take a toll on your body and mind, and even make life feel monotonous. Do something on your accord. Be selfless through learning and giving back to your community.
