Louise Chan is a friend from the University of California, San Diego.
Volunteering may seem daunting to a lot of people. They may not have the time or have trouble deciding on an area of interest. However, volunteering has many surprising benefits. No matter where you are in life, there is always something you can do to give back. Here are 5 reasons why volunteering is rewarding and worthwhile.
- Meet New People
Volunteering at an event that aligns your goals and interests will connect you to people with similar passions. Although you may not become lifelong friends with everyone, meeting new people provides a new perspective and opportunity to learn about others’ experiences in life.
When I volunteered at an animal shelter, I have met people from all walks of life. There were young people starting out in their careers to the elderly who have retired. Each person I met had a unique story and offered insight into their life.
- Learn New Skills
Volunteering provides opportunities to try something different and develop new skills by taking on new tasks. For example, planning a local event could help you learn to send invitations, prepare a guest list, and order food through local vendors. This will expand your horizons and expose you to novel topics.
- Give Back to the Community
Doing work for others helps you realize the positive impact you have to the community. It allows you to realize the parts of your community you may not see or interact with on a regular basis. Tutoring kids at an afterschool program, picking up litter from your neighborhood, or spending time with the elderly at a nursing home are all ways to help those in need.
- Improve Mental and Physical Well-being
Taking the time away from our busy lives and dedicating some time to other tasks can help ease stress. It can break up the monotony of everyday life and take break away from your work. When I participated in Rake The Town, we helped rake leaves off the lawns of the elderly. This inadvertently gave me the chance to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and was a good way to start off the weekend. It was also a good workout!
- Enrich Your Life
One of the great benefits of volunteering is that you can see the impact it has on others. Whether that is serving meals at a soup kitchen or building homes through Habitat for Humanity, people’s lives are directly improved and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. Win-win!
