Education is a lifelong process, with a focus far beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. The scope and impact of education is global, and its greatest value is service. Volunteerism is a means of helping yourself by helping others. Recently colleges, universities, technical schools and many businesses have started to take notice of students’ community service work. Participation in a volunteer program can aid a student in being selected for a job or acceptance into an institute of higher learning. By participating in a volunteer program, students help themselves in the following ways:
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Students learn to communicate with others they work with both in written and spoken form. Students are also required to write a description of their experiences and how it has helped others.
RESPONSIBILITY: Students learn to take responsibility for what they do in completing a job they started and in doing work outside of school where supervision is limited at times.
JOB SKILLS: Volunteers gain many skills they can later use elsewhere. Skills include time management, leadership, problem solving, and creative thinking.
TEAMWORK: Students learn to work as part of a team. Students learn to do their part and help others in the group in order to complete a task.
RESPECT: Students learn to respect the property of others, other individuals, and themselves. Students learn that respect is earned and given.
