Volunteering to stock cans for a local food shelter or shelving books in a nearby library can end up being a perfect weekend for those wishing to help their communities and make a difference. Helping others in society can lead to several advantages to one's health, life skills and future.
Personal satisfaction can be one of the numerous benefits of volunteering. This may sound like an artificial benefit, but helping others in need can assist in finding joy and gratitude in their life when seeing how others have to live. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on someone's overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety, so animal shelters provide excellent volunteer opportunities. Volunteering also combats depression. It keeps people in regular contact with others and helps them develop a solid support system, which in turn protects against depression. According to HelpGuide, “By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.” Volunteering can also increase self-confidence. Doing good for others and the community provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Having a role as a volunteer can give a sense of pride and identity. And the better people feel about themselves, the more likely that they have a positive view of their life and future goals.
Volunteering has also been found to provide opportunities to learn important, vital life skills that one will need in the future. According to HelpGuide, “While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.”
Reaching out to help people in need has always been such a noble gesture, and while volunteering should be for those with pure intentions, that does not mean that one should not take advantage of the academic benefits that go along with it, including how it looks on college applications. According to CollegeBoard, “staying involved is extremely important to College Admissions Offices.” In fact, colleges will use different students' experiences as a way to judge their character in ways that grades and test scores cannot. College Raptor states, “Volunteering/Community Service (both can be used interchangeably) as it relates to the college admissions process is very similar to extracurricular activities; they are not the end-all, be-all of the review process when your application comes up for review, but, as an applicant, they can only help you.” Colleges want to know students’ passions, and what skills they have which could make them excellent choices for that college. Though this should not be the primary incentive for volunteering, it can still be an excellent perk.
Choosing to make a difference in the community has numerous benefits, despite how one chooses to volunteer. This selfless act can enhance the personal skills, mental health and experience that one already possesses, making it undoubtedly worth the time and effort it takes to make a difference.
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