We live in a world where everyone is always busy- going out, having fun or focusing on themselves. Everyone is so caught up in themselves to see that their community needs help and its important to give back to the community and do something for the common good. Here are some things volunteering has taught me.
Don’t volunteer just to put it on your resume.
Yes, volunteering looks great on your resume, but if you’re not there willingly then you will not want to learn from it. It’s important to love what you do, and to give it your 100% every time you come in to volunteer. We all know the difference between having to do something and wanting to do something, and if you don’t want to do it then it will feel like a chore- which it shouldn’t.
Be Selfless.
In a world where most people put themselves first, volunteering is an opportunity to put others first. It’s important to se what everyone else needs, and the best feeling in the world is when you know you have helped someone.
Every little job counts.
Although taking out the trash, or making a bed might not seem like the biggest task- it sure is really important in making the day run smoothly. Although it seems like you are not doing anything important, you really don’t know how much of a difference it makes. Taking the mail to the mailbox may not seem like the best job, but knowing that you made someone else’s job easier is a great feeling.
Be caring.
You have no idea what situation others are in, and its crucial to be kind to everyone. Even if you are in a bad mood, put it aside for the time you volunteer for, and make sure that you are treating everyone nicely. Put your heart into what you do, and make sure that you are doing everything that you can in order to make people know that you care about the place you volunteer at.
Be understanding.
No matter where you volunteer, there are always going to be times where you will get frustrated. Whether it is talking to a person or doing a task- think of the situation the other person is in, or how much it means for the people you volunteer for that the task to get done.
You will learn something new.
Every time you volunteer, you will learn so many new skills. However, it is up to you to decide how little or how much you want to learn during the time you volunteer. I can honestly say that every time I have volunteered I learned at least two new skills. It feels great being able to expand your knowledge while being able to help others, and its incredible how much the people you volunteer for want to help you learn.
Doing things for others feels incredible.
It’s always nice to do things for others, but being able to volunteer and make an impact on others is the best feeling in the world. More importantly, it’s amazing to see the difference that your volunteering can make in a community. You truly won;t know the impact you can make until you have given the time and effort in helping your community. Whether it's volunteering in trash pickup, or even volunteering in a hospital- every bit of time you put into helping others makes a difference.
