In my senior year, (well, the first semester since I’m still a senior) I joined a student service group. It was by far one of the best decisions I made. At first, I joined because I wanted another extracurricular activity, but as I volunteered it became more than that. I learned the importance of helping others and being grateful for what I have. I had the chance to work with adults who were developmentally disabled and it was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. Being with people who struggle each day, yet smile in the face of such adversity made me realize that the minute things I go through are frivolous. The people at the center I volunteered at were some of the most happy, uplifting people I’ve ever met and they changed my outlook on life. I no longer hold negativity within myself because seeing them made me realize that negativity is nonexistent. Their positive, spirited attitudes are a beacon of hope for those who feel that they shouldn’t think positively about dire situations. Though most students generally don’t volunteer a lot of their time to others in need, I’d highly recommend it. It is a great experience and it also helps when you’re applying to college or for scholarships. Volunteering shows that you have compassion for others and you are a well-rounded, caring individual. Volunteering gives you this indescribable feeling of accomplishment. It makes you feel a sudden warmth and happiness that indicates you’ve made a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small or big.
The student service group that I joined was buildOn and they have numerous chapters within the U.S. I would recommend becoming a part of buildOn because they have a lot of access to lesser known volunteer opportunities and you can also meet new people. If they don’t have a chapter at your school, you can easily start one, they have a ton of information on their site that will help you get started with making a chapter at your school. I also use Volunteer Match. Volunteer Match has a whole database of opportunities that are available in your area and in surrounding neighborhoods. St. Pat’s Senior Center is also a great place to spend time. The senior citizens there really appreciate young people spending their time with them and it is a blast meeting all the people there.