More often than not, people think of community service as a resume builder or charity work. Through my time as a high school and college student, I have learned that this work is much more. Taking time to be selfless and put a cause or group of people first greatly impacts not only these people and causes, but the individuals doing the work as well. Character development is a huge part of life, and I have firsthand experience in seeing how community service and engagement change lives.
In life, I have found that many times we find ourselves while doing work for others. I am a proponent of joining community service clubs, initiatives, and organizations that aim to connect citizens with work around their community. Most high schools have “Key Club” which is an international organization that aims to “Make the world a better place in service.” Oftentimes, citizens don’t know where to start in their community engagement journey.
Organizations like Key Club are the exact answer to situations like this. During my own time in Key Club, the executive members provided general members with a plethora of events and opportunities to volunteer. They also offered rides and groups to connect other members with each other. Naturally, many students did this to check off a box or to list their community service hours on their resume. However, through completing the service work, it’s hard to not fall in love with it regardless of the benefits on paper. In addition to Key Club, popular organizations such as Interact Club, Leo Club and National Honor Society are also available to high school students. These are a perfect jump start to any citizen’s community engagement journey.
I have found that in college, there are even more opportunities to get involved through service work. Most colleges and universities have a “meet the club/organization” event at the beginning of every semester. At Virginia Tech this is Gobbler Fest. Ahead of attending one of these events, many schools have online databases where students can do research ahead of time. I personally did my own research and found a handful of clubs that I knew I wanted to visit. These events are for students who want to learn more about club/organization missions, commitments, meeting times and any information that’s important to know before you join. In addition, you can meet like-minded individuals at these events. Doing community service with a friend or family member makes it that much better.
Even if you don’t join a club/organization solely devoted to community service work, most clubs have their own form of philanthropy. For example, each sorority and fraternity on campus has their own philanthropy that they dedicate at least a week to each semester. Most Greek organizations are also required to participate in other organizations’ philanthropy weeks to benefit the greater community.
All of these clubs, organizations, and events are available to students to get started on their individual journey in the huge world of community engagement. However, I have found that this engagement is the most meaningful when you are able to dig deep and find a few organizations to focus your attention on. For some people they know exactly what cause or organization they want to put their life’s work towards. For others, this is a personal journey in and of itself. It’s important to attend and try out a few different genres of work before narrowing anything down. For example, many people enjoy hands-on work, like packing canned food bags or participating in a clothing drive. Others prefer behind the scenes work such as participating in community wide projects. Whatever it is, there is something for everyone.
Communities run because of the volunteer work their citizens provide. No matter what you love to do, you can benefit from community service. This work naturally allows you to put yourself out there and in other people’s shoes. Whether you meet people along the way who make your life richer or find yourself working for a cause, you will be a better human being once you become involved. So, get started today! I promise you’ll notice a difference.