Volunteer work is a rite of passage for many high school students. Some schools require a certain number of volunteer hours, and many honors societies, religious organizations and families either require or highly encourage it. It is certainly a worthwhile endeavor students should consider spending time on, but it is also viewed as something students must do to make an impression on college. Is it necessary? If so, what kind of volunteer work matters?
Volunteer work is not a requirement to apply to college. Colleges are looking for students with integrity and empathy, who are kind and helpful, who genuinely care about others and strive to make an impact on the community around them. Volunteer work is a great way to show that, but not the only way. Hence, students should not force themselves to engage in volunteer work they don’t care about to make an impression on college. What is most important is that students take on volunteer work that is meaningful and in line with their interests. What is required is that the student has genuine interest, and cares about a specific cause or segment of people in need. Even if a student is doing it to fulfill a requirement, it is best to put some thought into it, to find something that aligns with something that a student cares about to make it enjoyable, and worthwhile. Below are the Do’s and Don’ts of volunteering that will help students make the best of their experience.
The DOS
1. Pick a cause that interests you. The first step to finding a meaningful volunteer opportunity is for students to identify their interests. Then, they should start looking for relevant opportunities. The student should be able to talk about why they have picked a cause and how it stands in line with their beliefs. For example, if the student is interested in supporting animals, they could work at a dog shelter. Or, alternatively, they could work at animal farms or wildlife conservation projects. If the student cares about the environment, they can volunteer to clean up neighborhood parks, get involved with a town initiative to encourage residents to explore renewable energy, or they can engage in advocacy work organizing residents and town government officials to make changes that improves air quality.
2. If there isn’t a specific cause that interests you, do something that you enjoy that benefits others. If a student enjoys playing an instrument, they can share the joy of music by performing in nursing homes, daycare centers, group homes, or give concerts that raise money for a certain cause. If a student likes to code, they can offer coding lessons at libraries to younger children. Athletes can work with children or elderlies to teach sports or help with exercise and strengthening.
3. Get involved with one main cause or several ones with a common theme. Rather than spreading out time across multiple causes and organizations, it is better to volunteer at one organization or pursue several different initiatives around the same cause or theme. For example, suppose a student is interested in education. In that case, they could volunteer at one NGO several days a week for over 1-2 years. Or, they can work with different organizations in different areas of childhood education over time or concurrently. A student may tutor kids as a freshman, and during sophomore year volunteer at a local Boys & Girls Club teaching an art class while continuing with tutoring. Junior year the student may get involved in advocacy work to bring music and art education to inner city schools. If a student is taking up more than one volunteer opportunity, it is better if they are connected to one another and are reflective of the student’s interests and values. Focusing on one or two areas also helps make a bigger impact.
4. Pick a cause that makes an impact. The nature and meaning of volunteer work is that it has some impact. Students should keep this in mind while undertaking any volunteer work. An impact does not necessarily have to be something huge. It can be small— if a student is interested in education, they could influence one child to approach education differently. Alternatively, if they are interested in the environment, they can get a few trees planted. The important thing is that the student can see their actions bringing about constructive change — big or small.
The DON’TS
1. Do not randomly pick any volunteer work. It is easy to take up any volunteer work that comes one’s way. For example, working at the Red Cross or a local hospital may be options readily available for most students. However, students should generally refrain from taking up anything that comes their way unless they are genuinely drawn to the work. Additionally, students should not simply take up a volunteer opportunity just because their friends are doing it. The volunteer work they pick should have personal meaning for them.
2. Do not pick volunteer work lacking a coherent theme. Picking volunteer work that has no coherent theme appears haphazard and will have less impact. If students are simply doing it for the sake of doing it, the student will not want to invest much into it and will ultimately drop out without making an impact.
3. Do not be afraid. Take up opportunities that may appear challenging or novel. For example, suppose a student is interested in a particular cause, and there is no existing organization to support this. In that case, they should use this as an opportunity to start something themselves. For example, if a student cares about the border issues, and want to help undocumented children, it will not be practical for the student (depending on where they live) to fly out to the borders to help directly. However, the student can work on raising funds to help children in need, they can get involved in advocacy work by writing to lawmakers to support Dreamers, or they can start a club to educate and advocate on behalf of people affected by the border issues. Students should be creative, innovative, and take risks.
For additional insights, read:
High School Extracurriculars that Matter for College Admissions
Why Being A Well-Rounded Student Isn’t Enough Anymore
What Courses should Academically Motivated Students take in High School?
10 Things Students Can Do This Summer to Impress Colleges
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