Volunteering in high school can be a transformative experience, offering self-improvement, increased empathy, and an overall sense of fulfillment.
The benefits and experience that come with volunteering are undeniable, but the reality of balancing volunteer work with school, extracurriculars, work and maintaining a social life is often overlooked.
Many students volunteer to build up their resumes and stand out during the college selection process, but end up being pleasantly surprised when it changes their future career ambitions.
Mount Pisgah sophomore Emily Shelton, who volunteers with Fur Kids, shares her testimony about volunteering sparking a future career option.
“I definitely feel like volunteering has helped me know what I want to do in a job when I am older. I love serving and helping my community, so as of right now, I want to be a pediatric nurse and help children feel better. I don’t know if I would have found my love for serving others if I hadn’t volunteered consistently throughout my life,” said Shelton.
There are so many opportunities to volunteer during high school; all it takes is a spark of inspiration.
Mount Pisgah junior Cooper Kesh got involved in volunteering to help those in need.
“I decided to start volunteering during high school because I grew up wanting to help people and wanted to see if I could make an impact in the life of a kid who has already been through more than I can imagine. Everyone that I talked to that had volunteered at Camp Lighthouse felt changed and had a new perspective on the lives of people that are less fortunate than them, and I wanted to do what I could to help,” said Kelsh.
The benefits of volunteering in high school are undeniable, but what should students do when they have piled on too much?
Whether it comes from parents, organizations, or college applications, the pressure to juggle volunteering on top of school and other extracurricular activities can be overwhelming.
“There were times when I felt like I had maybe put too much on my plate, but making to-do lists helped me manage my time. Also, learning what types of volunteering work for my schedule and prioritizing those helped me too,” said senior Caroline Boardman.
Despite the challenges that come with volunteering, the long-term impact seems to outweigh those obstacles. Volunteering teaches students more about their community outside of school and sports, it allows them to put themselves in others’ shoes.
“Volunteering has helped me to become aware of bigger issues that most people know about but don’t understand how common they are. These kids go through so much at an extremely young age, and coming to camp is truly a highlight of their year, and I’m just glad I get to be a part of it,” said Kelsh. “Volunteering has shown me that taking a step outside your comfort zone can make a big difference in the community, and I think that all people should do some form of it.”
