As summer approaches, it’s tempting for students to plan nothing for those 12 weeks, other than
sleeping until noon, relaxing in the sun and vegetating with social media. But
students who sincerely want to build strong college applications know that
summer is their opportunity to fit non-academic commitments into their
schedules, which can set them apart from the masses. It’s not enough to take a
plethora of AP classes and earn top grades, for acceptance into top tier
colleges. Applicants need recognition beyond their schools, if they intend to
be competitive. Community service is one of the best ways to achieve this.
A great way to gain experience and develop a more diverse
profile, is to volunteer. Non-profit organizations welcome student volunteers
in a wide variety of areas. Students can volunteer for a few hours, a week or
two, or the entire summer. Depending on the student’s maturity and interest
levels, it’s not usually not too hard to find something to do, that benefits
others. There are dozens of non-profit organizations in our region, such as city
recreation departments, local chambers of commerce, libraries, schools,
churches, civic groups, environmental groups, health awareness campaigns and
even private industries that welcome youthful volunteers.
Volunteering is a great way to learn about an industry or
occupation. Students who aspire careers in law, public speaking, politics or
even policy making can benefit from volunteering at the state capitol. Students
interested in health care can quickly find out if they are emotionally equipped
to work in a hospital setting, by volunteering in the junior auxiliary.
Potential engineers can discover what employees in that world do each day.
Students are often surprised to learn that some engineers wear jeans to work,
visit construction jobsites and get dirty on the job regularly. Every industry
has a culture that students can access when volunteering, which helps with
career exploration.
Volunteering is also a way to begin a professional network. While
a 15-year-old might not think that a professional network is important yet,
sometimes a volunteer supervisor can provide an excellent letter of recommendation
for a college application or scholarship application. The expression, “It’s not
what you know, but who you know,” has merit in our region. Sometimes
volunteering leads to interning which leads to part time employment and
ultimately a full time profession. When students volunteer, they reveal
character, work ethic, integrity and other qualities that impress employers.
A truly profound volunteer experience will probably require
some prep work on the part of the student, before the actual volunteering
begins. Many organizations pre-screen potential volunteers, train them and some
even require immunizations (such as hospitals) before students are allowed to
volunteer. Many have dress codes, office protocol and other requirements that
students are expected to learn and observe. This is the hallmark of a great place
to volunteer – a place where students are well prepared to be of value to the
organization. If you are asked to pre-screen, provide references, or be drug-tested
prior to volunteering, it is a testament to the organization’s commitment to
making your experience positive and worth your time.
For more information on volunteering, visit our website: Community
Service
