Community Service

The Benefits of Volunteering as a High Schooler           

Community Perspective

One of the immediate benefits of volunteering is that it allows students to be in tune with and give back to their local community.

Due to staffing and budget constraints, some organizations rely on volunteers to achieve their mission. And for many teenagers, doing volunteer work is a chance to experience a culture or group of people that they wouldn’t have otherwise encountered.

It’s also a chance to become aware of problems in their community that they may not otherwise have known about. 

Develop Career Skills and Interests

For high school students who are undecided about a career path or college major, volunteering can help narrow down potential areas of interest.

Students can learn an assortment of skills, from hands-on manual labor to office and administrative skills, says Marie Schwartz, CEO and founder of TeenLife, a company that helps students in grades 7-12 find community service opportunities.

“Lack of exposure is the biggest barrier to success,” she says. “Volunteering is one of those ways to get that exposure at no cost.”

Networking and Mentorship

In addition, experts say the relationships students build during volunteer opportunities can be useful down the road when applying to college or for jobs.

(U.S News.com 22')