Forget everything on your resolution list immediately and listen up: volunteering and interning can change your life. (Okay, don’t forget everything on your list; I’m sure you’ve got great stuff on there.) If you haven’t considered getting involved this year you may want to change that—and here’s why:
1. Location, location, location.
You can volunteer or intern basically anywhere. Non-profits are always looking for help from passionate and invested people, and the work they do is often spread through a wide geographical area. Compassion Connect has helped serve in over twenty local communities (and as far away as India)! Check out the work that is going on in your community and ask how you can get plugged into current efforts.
2. To each their own schedule.
You have a busy life. You juggle many pins and you wear many hats. How in the world can you fit volunteer time into a schedule that is sometimes unpredictable and time-consuming? The appeal of many volunteer positions and internships is that the time commitment is fairly small, often just a few hours a week. A handful of our positions require a mere two to three hours per week. The time you put in is small, but the impact you make ripples throughout the community and touches lives with compassion. Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart. —Elizabeth Andrew
3. A myriad of choices.
There’s an internship or volunteer position for every talent and gift. Whether you’re a photographer or a dental hygienist or a business major or just really love people, there is always a way to use your skills to help others (plus gain experience). But if you don’t have prior experience with the position you’re passionate about, never fear. You’re not expected to know everything. A willingness to learn new things goes a long way.
4. Enhance your education, career, and résumé.
If you’re a student you probably know how valuable internships and volunteering can be for their potential to provide career skills, bulk up your résumé, and offer priceless life experience. Whether an internship is required or not, taking the initiative to gain the knowledge they impart looks real, real good to schools and potential employers.
5. Good, clean fun!
Who says serving can’t be fun? The people you meet, the life lessons you learn, and the memories you make mean that there will almost never be a dull moment on your service journey.
6. Volunteerism is a worthwhile trend.
According to the Smart Blog On Leadership, 48 of the organizations on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list offer employees paid time off specifically for volunteering, and the movement seems to be gathering steam. Oregon contributes the 10th most volunteers per year in the nation at 34%, but that number will, of course, go up when you get involved this year.
7. Community enrichment.
Are there people or groups in your community you desperately want to help? You don’t have to helplessly sit back and wish that you could do something—you can get involved and start making a difference. You don’t have to be a politician, you don’t have to be a CEO, you don’t have to be wealthy to make a difference in someone’s life—you just have to be you. Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in. —Author Unknown
8. “This Is the Best Experience I’ve Ever Had!”
—Said everyone, every time they volunteer or participate in an internship, right? By helping others you’ll realize how much you have, which culminates in a thankful heart. In turn, you’ll be happier and want to help even more. Furthermore, studies have shown that volunteering increases self-confidence, combats depression and stress, and increases physical health (HelpGuide.org). Want to live both a healthier and happier life? Giving back could be just the thing you need.
9. You’ll become a better person.
Serving others is a transcendent experience; there is little else like it on earth. The invaluable joy of helping someone while developing a character of compassion, selflessness, and kindness is something not everyone experiences, but everyone should. It can truly change your life.
10. It’s ridiculously easy to get involved.
In fact, it’s so easy to get involved I’ll give you a huge hint right now…check out this link for an updated list of opportunities to get involved at Compassion Connect this year. We want you to join our team and experience the joy that comes from serving our neighbors together. Why wait? The moment to start making a difference is now.
I want to grow in my journey of purposeful compassion by receiving stories, encouragement, and service opportunities to my email inbox!
