Why Volunteer?

It all started when my English teacher assigned us a writing project. The assignment: to volunteer for a day and write about our experiences. The class groaned. Another pointless thing that we’d have to do for marks. I never expected to enjoy it... but I would be proven wrong.

The following day, I went with a friend to the neighbourhood Salvation Army where we’d participate in the Street Feeding program. It turned out to be a very enjoyable experience and I’ve been going back every week since. Besides the fact that it was enjoyable, it also came with many advantages. For high-school students, the benefits of volunteering are abundant:

• Universities love to see applicants with dedicated volunteer commitments. This shows them that the prospective student is determined, organized and knows how to balance their schedule.

• Volunteer experience comes in handy if you’re job hunting. Employers recognize that student volunteers are good at organizing their time and would bring a high level of commitment, ambition and teamwork into the workplace.

• Often, you’ll meet people of your age with the same interests as you, so friendships are easily formed.

• Volunteering is great for personal edification. You gain valuable teamwork skills coming into contact with many different people. Knowing that you’re making a difference in the world is a reward of its own.