Find Your Cause: Why You Should Volunteer While in College
You might not care about the Harvey Weinstein scandal, but you're a teeny bit curious about Melania Trump's opinion on sexual harassment (or Ivanka Trump's for that matter). You don't have a clue about Myanmar, so you don't know a thing about the Rohingya crisis. And you believe that your hometown is one perfect place. In other words, no skeletons inside the closet. It doesn't mean that you're a clueless teenager, not even a self-entitled youth eager to make good connections at an early age. The idea of giving back might not have sunk in. Yet.
Eduardo Williams's experimental film, "The Human Surge", was released in selected theaters early last year. The Argentinian filmmaker shows a group of millennials from three continents, of how different cultures would teach them to think and behave differently. No one has thought about global warming (and what they might do), not even one has shown genuine concern on the abject reaction to poverty. It would be the same with teenagers in America. This must be the right time to introduce volunteerism, but many teens have other reasons. It's a school requirement. It's a good opportunity to meet new people. If you'll do it in an exotic country, then you're thinking of selfie shots that will make your friends green with envy.
There are several reasons to find your cause at a young age, and all of it will help you know yourself better. You'll learn the value of responsibility, which you won't embrace it immediately. You will stand out from the pack, which you're hesitant to do. You'll become passionate about something, which can be infectious to anyone (or everyone). You might wish that it will help your resolve to finish your assignments ahead of the deadline. And you wish there must be more than your seemingly uneventful life. If you only notice your disheveled room. You might overlook one (good) reason. You're watching a divided America.
It's hard to tell if Donald Trump is the cause (or the catalyst), but it won't burst your bubble. You won't show concern on anything that doesn't have to do with you. If this is the case, then college administrators are right to make community service a mandatory requirement to all (college) students. In praise of some diligent (or perceptive) students, they won't mind the fact that they don't get paid for their volunteering services. (To put it in another way, they won't be disillusioned after finding out that organizations need volunteers because they want to save on their resources.) Whether you have good (or selfish) intentions, finding your cause at an early age will reap benefits later on.
5 Important Lessons About Volunteering
You'll learn to focus on other people. It will be a good thing if you can do it in the shortest time, but don't force yourself. There aren't lots of (public) role models on this one. Selfishness may be one of the recipes for success, but it doesn't build a community. This is one of those rare instances when vulnerability will endear you to some people, making new friends along the way. And it's a great feeling to work in a friendly, if not supportive, environment.
You'll learn social skills. You're a socially inept teenager, which shouldn't upset you. It's not uncommon for the young ones, even the popular figures in school. These so-called soft skills include (gentle) persuasion, patience, and passion. If you're looking too far (into your future), then you can target your communication skills, You're one of a kind if you're mulling over your managerial skills.
You'll become an inspiration to others, hoping your friends follow you. Admit it or not, you crave attention. There's nothing wrong with it especially if you do it right. It would mean not being modest about it when you're called out. (Don't let it get into your head. Yet.) The only thing missing in this picture are familiar faces, whom you consider your closest (or oldest) friends. A little bragging might work out for you.
You'll learn what it is to be a team player. This is a virtue in any company, if not a must to survive in the corporate world. You might be too young to think about salary and benefits, but you'll get a promotion (and raise) on a short notice. Just be good at it.
You'll learn about your career options. If you're in your final year in the university, then you have a short list of options. You can't put all your eggs in one basket unless you have that strong drive (to succeed on your chosen career path).
It's OK, If You Don't Like Volunteering
If you're far and away from home, then you won't matter if you found it out too late. Culture shock would be amusing at times. If it's a requirement (and nothing else), then you can still be proud about having little (or no) idle time. If it's not your thing, then you may not notice how you change after the experience.
You're making a world a better place, and it's a small one. Don't count on your rewards. Yet.
