“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; They just have the heart”- (Andrew, n.d)
At first, I was clueless about where to place my time and focus to create positive change in my community. Therefore, I began brainstorming. I came up with various ways I could help society, but I had no actual direction. However, one thing was undeniable, I always wanted to work with a volunteer community. To my surprise, one of my friends approached me with the idea to join Pioneers Youth. I wanted to see how volunteering and community service works and how it helps others. I had no idea how gratifying it would be.
I think that volunteering is often considered a selfless act, one in which you give up your time for a worthy cause without being paid. For teens like ourselves, volunteer work can help us broaden our horizons, meet new friends, experience different cultures, or learn a new language. All the while contributing to society's needs. Volunteering can help us develop into confident, proactive citizens too.
Even though we face some of society's most challenging problems, many of us ultimately find volunteer work empowering. While working on solutions to these problems, we privileged to see how our efforts help improve the lives of others. This plays a significant role in developing our self-esteem throughout our teenage years, usually filled with insecurities and a lack of self-confidence. Teenagers who volunteer often experience fewer mental health problems than those who don't. When they see how their actions affect a community for the better, their self-confidence skyrockets, and they feel happier.
Amazingly, many famous and wealthy celebrities realize how blessed they are and give back a lot to the community. Whether in their home countries, abroad, or when natural or unnatural disasters strike. There are so many celebrities we didn't know were also volunteers. Selena Gomez is known as one of the most famous pop stars, so it's no surprise that she'd be involved with several charity organizations. Not only does she visit sick children in the hospital. She's also campaigned with volunteer organizations on the West and Central Africa's distressing nutrition crisis, fighting to raise money for malnourished children. They have been blessed with the talent, the drive, and the luck to become super successful and famous, making a ton of money on the way.
My social circle has typically consisted of family and school friends. However, joining this volunteer organization allowed me to meet people outside my usual circle of friends. Some of whom may have a positive impact on my future. It also provides the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people and form relationships that last a lifetime.
I think that, when selecting an opportunity, teens can volunteer in an area where their interests lie. For example, if they're thinking about a career in medicine, they might want to volunteer at a hospital. If they're passionate about animal rights, they could consider helping out at an animal shelter. Besides, if they aren't sure where their passions lie, participating in a few different single days of service can help them discover previous interests.
It doesn't matter what teenagers do for their communities. Any involvement is good. By getting involved with community activities, we meet like-minded peers and positive adult role models other than our parents. Interacting and cooperating with others encourage us to see the world from different perspectives. For example, my family might have set religious or spiritual beliefs or none at all. However, when I work with others who believe differently, I might see some new ways of putting my ideas into action for the good of others.
I enjoy helping people with problems they have because I always try to picture myself in another person's shoes. I can't stand watching people suffer. I feel that it is every human's responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. Knowing that I can make a difference in someone's day by just helping them in the slightest is very important to me because I can help bring ease to people. On the contrary, some volunteer to gain recognition in their communities, build relationships with people(networking) or give them a sense of purpose. "Volunteering" and "Community Service" are small words. However, they can have an enormous impact on society.
People become volunteers for many different reasons. They find out new things about themselves that they had not even thought of before. Unfortunately, many people find it hard to make time to volunteer. Volunteers are the pillars that hold a community together. Volunteering gives us a sense of pride and identity. It will make us feel better about ourselves. In addition, bringing a positive outlook on our lives and future goals.
“Volunteers are not paid; not because they are worthless but because they are priceless"- (Sherry Anderson) and this quotation has been in my mind lately. So I keep in mind, whenever I volunteer, I will never think of the personal benefits I will get. I will always consider how others will benefit from my assistance. The pleasure of knowing that I can make a difference is all the convincing I will need to get out and volunteer.