There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities. Non-profits and student service organizations are begging for student volunteers, the problem is finding an opportunity that fits your individual needs and interests.
The holidays are here, a time educate and dedicate to recognizing and completing community service. It is also the perfect time to start on your journey to find the perfect volunteer opportunity. So how can students find the best place to volunteer?
“Interest plays a large part. Students have to find a subject that they are passionate about and it will make them want to make a difference,” said Iris Shanklin, director at Atlanta Metropolitan’s Student Activities.
Determining your area of passion is the first and most important step in the process of finding any volunteer opportunity. Community service projects require time, energy and effort, and for great volunteers the work itself is a part of the reward. Hastily signing up to volunteer for a cause you are not interested in can be frustrating for you and can be more harmful than helpful to the organization. Think about an area where you want to make an impact; that is where the search needs to begin.
“Non-profits essentially have the same capacity as businesses in the private sector; they still need people to help in all areas,” said Shanklin. “We are trying to incorporate career clusters into some of our service opportunities to get students the experiences that they need, as well as giving back to the community.”
Many students want to volunteer but don’t know where or how to access service opportunities. For those students, it is necessary to reach out to others and let them know exactly where and what you want to do. “There are many opportunities around, so if you ever need to volunteer, all you have to do is ask. Come to Student Activities, room 205, connect with people on Twitter, Facebook, just tell people what you want and someone will help you get there,” said Weslie Rushhin, a sophomore Mass Communication major and member of Student Activities.
The staff provide students with information and help in choosing the best community service opportunity. There is no shortage of service projects and organizations with which students can volunteer. “We get a good amount of students, but we can always have more,” Rushin said.
“There’s so much good work that can be done on this campus and in the community. And as we are trying to help Atlanta Metro cultivate a culture of service, we hope more students and student leaders will come in and serve.”