The Benefits Of Student Volunteering Programs For Students

Taking time to volunteer at the many nonprofit organizations, homeless shelters, advocacy centers, philanthropic fundraisers, local schools and child care facilities in the inner city is not always at the forefront of young people’s minds while navigating through their college experiences. But, with a little push from student organizations, local nonprofits and passionate individuals, volunteerism and community change can start to take a front seat and become not just an opportunity, but also a priority in the lives of young people.

Another need on our campus is the need for students to have volunteering opportunities available to them. Our campus is located in a high socio-economic community where students are blessed to be very privileged. Unfortunately, students are often very self-centered and don’t think of others who may have less opportunities. By developing a program that always students to leave the campus to use the skills they are learning in the classroom, students will become more connected to the community and less focused on themselves.

The United States is a country of volunteers. In 2002-2003, 64 million Americans (28.8 percent of those 16 and older) donated 52 hours a year, the equivalent of more than one full work week, to building shelters, coaching Little League, caring for the elderly, teaching literacy, and countless other community-minded pursuits. Statistics show in Source F that “groups mandatory and nonvolunteers – were less likely to volunteer 8 years after high school than persons who strongly encouraged to volunteer or did it for strictly voluntary reason (43 percent).”

Shelters provide volunteer opportunities to those in the community. Volunteers from schools or career programs help the community by placing people in administrative jobs and service work that benefit the needy. Many schools require students to have a volunteer hours. Volunteering increases the awareness of how poorly some people live and survive. Volunteering is a good way to just help the community. Most people volunteer because they want to. Volunteering is a good way to help the community, because many times it is a subject that needs help. Out of the goodness in people’s hearts they want to help, and volunteering is a great way to help. “Not only are

Volunteerism is a path to responsible citizenship. Volunteering is a form of generous behavior, with a goal of providing help to others, a group, an organization, a cause, or the community at large without expectation of accolades or material reward (Musick, 2008, p 3). Volunteer work encourages good citizenship. It builds trust with others and public institutions. Trusting people are more likely to get involved in leadership positions or even politics. It gets individuals involved by letting them meet a wider range of people, then learning more about local issues and legislation. Volunteer work teaches civic skills, which can then be used in the political arena, and help individuals become aware of social problems needing solutions (p 460-461).

In “Serve or Fail,” Dave Eggers dissatisfies the phenomenon that although college students have too much leisure, they are not willing to give a few hours doing community services. Eggers suggests that colleges should consider instituting a service requirement for graduation, and colleges are best-poised to create in their students a lifelong commitment to volunteering. He pointed out that there are even

“Volunteering could help colleges bridge the gap between the academic world and the world beyond it” says Eggers. Volunteering could be done at many venues and by volunteering at work places or in a field they prefer to, students can get to know that field better. Acquiring that perspective will connect the students to that field of work allowing them to gain experience.

Volunteering can help students decide on a major and get actual experience in the field to see if it’s for them. “This type of volunteer work seems like a valuable opportunity for our generation, often referred to as the “lost generation” and achieve stability in our lives.” Public service on a job application is a plus because it lets employers know that you’re responsible, can follow instructions, and get tasks completed. You could also use the people in charge as references to getting a job. Participating in programs creates networking opportunities and can help students build relationships.

The act of volunteering is offering personal service to others with no fee. This promotes good moral in the community and a sense of personal pride. Along with the emotional benefits are those of a higher rank to promote yourself in an organization. Schools and organizations alike should require service hours to promote the student as well as the school.

Students are often close minded when it comes to learning, but when they are forced to volunteer they learn new things that are beneficial to their future. When helping others, students learn how to think outside the box and to be innovative. Volunteering can give students the chance to explore and be creative when helping those in need. Being innovative and creative can give students the chance to excel in their academics and school events.They take problem solving to a whole new level that they would have never thought of . Community service is a useful tool to give students a chance on a second outlook on

Imagine immigrating to a foreign country where uncertainty and unfamiliarity awaits. That was my family in October 2008 when we arrived in America as refugees, deprived of basic necessities such as food and clothing. We faced difficulties adjusting to the culture and meeting our needs. However, volunteers of all ages from different charities delivered and donated foods, clothing, and presents, and warmly welcomed us with comfort during a time of major adjustment in our lives. They guided my family in our transition as we apply for schools and jobs. Volunteering was also a rare and uncommon practice in my birth country, so the number of volunteers helping us in America made a good impression of the country to my family. As I grew up and attend high school in America, I realized the amazing and endless opportunities for young people to make a difference in other’s lives by feeding the homeless, responding to natural disasters, caring for the elderlies, cleaning the community, saving the lives of animals, and much more. Community service should be required to graduate high school because it provides essential skills, builds character, and promotes higher education for a successful life.

Volunteering is good for the mind, body, and soul. For some of us, it is hard to find the time. Becoming creative and doing what you deem a little can be BIG for another. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent questions is “What are you doing for others?”

Discussing about volunteering to teenagers should be the first step for a better life, since teenagers are the future of tomorrow and they will leave a mark from yesterday. Volunteering has been such an important matter, that schools in many countries around the world established that 12th grade students will need certain hours of community service in order to graduate. But the frequent answers all the schools are getting are “Why do I need to volunteer? I have better things to do!” What people are forgetting is that each one of them is part of a community, a community that is not perfect and that the government sometimes forgets about their problems or needs, because obviously the government needs to take care of other things that require more attention. People are not only helping others, they are also helping themselves (Volunteering).

Volunteerism enables students to gain the moral lesson that is vital to their life and develop their future interest. According to source 2, “community service teaches us through experience - about the relationship between empathy and responsibility, about what it takes to be part of a community, in essence, about human being”. While students are helping their community, they learn the crucial moral lessons in the most direct and impressive way. Through an actual experience of volunteering, students are reminded that it is their responsibility to serve for their community because they are a part of it. Helping without any feedback allows them to realize the power of empathy, the essential value that makes the society a

Nevertheless, the common misconception linked to graduating College students is that they are well-rounded adults, who have done their time and are ready and able to enter the working force and go on with their lives. The fact of the matter is that not all recent college students are mature and knowledgeable on their community and the world at large. “Teens who volunteer increase their knowledge of the world and the problems that face it” (“Youths”). This quote is not only applicable to teens, but college students as well; unfortunately, college students become isolated from the rest of the world while they are in their course of study and do not make time to give back to the community that helped them become who they are.