Summer Volunteer Work Can Work for Teens

Volunteer work is about spending time doing something to help others out but not expecting anything in return. While the payoff doesn’t come in the form of cash, like most summer jobs, volunteering can be rewarding in so many ways.

College Applications: The most practical benefit of volunteer work is as a resume builder. The competition for top colleges is steeper than ever. Applicants with volunteer work experience are valuable to any college or university. It shows a commitment to making the community a better place. You will stand out among other students if you have volunteer work listed on any application.

Real-Life Experience: Many volunteer opportunities require teenagers to learn new skills. Volunteers may learn carpentry through Habitat for Humanity or cooking through a soup kitchen. The skills learned through volunteer work may be useful later in life. Volunteers might also discover a calling to a career they had never thought about before. For instance, volunteering as a candy striper in a hospital might reveal medicine as a future career. You can get a true feeling of what the real world is like without making a full commitment to an area of work.

Emotional Satisfaction: Volunteering gives you a sense of well-being. Knowing you have made a difference in someone’s life is inspiring and comforting. Volunteer work can build self-esteem and pride in yourself. These positive emotions are bound to rub off on those around you as well.

Meeting New People: Through volunteering, you will meet many like-minded people. You can make new friends who share your same values. The time you spend together doing good work will create a special bond. You may meet some of the most important people in your life through volunteer work.

Professional contacts can also be made through volunteering. If you coach a youth sports league, for instance, you become part of a whole network of families in the community. The more people you know in different areas, the more resources you have when looking for help, information or even a job in the future.

So use some of your free time this summer to volunteer. Make a difference in the lives of others, build your resume, learn real-life skills, feel proud of yourself and meet new people. Volunteering is one of the best things you can do to build a better future for yourself and those around you. Join us at LiveFree! today and take a step in the right direction for yourself and your community!

Sources:

Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits (Help Guide.org)

The benefits of volunteer work (Working.com.)

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