I've heard it debated throughout my leadership classes at OSU: Can volunteering ever be truly selfless? Probably not, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Some would argue that volunteering to travel, or to just feel good about yourself, is actually selfish. Frankly, I see absolutely nothing wrong with doing something that helps another person or community, and feeling good about yourself afterward.
I started volunteering a great deal more in college because I found that I had more time and more opportunities. I really like volunteering places where I get to tutor or work with kids. Not only does it look good on my resume, but I'm also passionate about making a change for these children. I love working with kids and it always makes me feel good about myself afterward. Not to mention all that these kids teach me while I'm there! I learn so many things about myself and these kids through my experiences, but I also am making an impact on a small scale.
I have a friend who went on a BuckiServe service trip this past March to Louisiana. On this trip, she worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for those who needed them. Not only did she get to visit New Orleans, a place she'd never been, but she also learned valuable skills regarding teamwork and construction, as well as providing a home for a family in need. She got to travel and see new places, but she also did something very beneficial for someone else. This friend of mine is passionate about public policy and social justice, so she found something that she loved to do and went for it!
Early this summer I took a similar trip, although not as far. I went to North Carolina to tutor middle school students in hopes of helping them pass their end-of-year math tests. For me, this experience was life changing. Many of these students I worked with had not had a math teacher the previous year for some reason or another and their school didn't have much funding or resources. Unfortunately, most of them continually failed their benchmarks. So, yes, they needed help in the actual area of math, but I think what they really needed was confidence in their ability. The one-on-one tutoring seemed to benefit them in the best of ways, and although we were only there for a week, I felt like I really grew to know and care about these students.
When the time came to pack up and come home, I wasn't ready. I thought to myself, I could stay here for a little while longer. Because of this trip, and the job I worked this summer, I have decided to pick up a minor in public policy with a focus on education. Seeing the situations these schools are in made me even more passionate about making a change in regards to education.
So, no, I don't think it's even a little selfish to benefit from the service and volunteer work that you are providing for others. In fact, I think it is selfish not to. It's impossible to go into a new place and learn nothing if your heart is really in it, and why volunteer if it's not? But I wouldn't go as far as saying it's completely selfless either. The benefits can be truly rewarding. Volunteering has been a critical part of my college career and I would encourage anyone who has a passion about something to get out there and find the place where they can really feed that passion. You only live one life, so why not make it worth it.
