Why High School Students Should Volunteer
By: Dannon Eubanks
Something that is always on the mind of a high school student is what their next steps are and how they can best be prepared for that. Whether that involves getting into college or starting in a job, students are constantly competing with others to get the spot. Standing out to schools and future employers is essential to landing the position. Universities, small and large, are offering scholarships to students who show outstanding leadership experience and have a heart for community service. Employers nationwide are more likely to hire a person if they have community service experience.
In addition to building your resume and looking ahead, volunteering helps you gain skills and make connections that are applicable now. Volunteering helps high school students in a multitude of ways. In addition to boosting your resume, volunteering allows students to satisfy high school requirements, build civic responsibilities, learn new skills, and give back to their communities. Several high schools recognize when a student completes a certain number of service hours allowing them to graduate with distinction as a Tennessee Scholar. Part of the reason that high schools recognize this success and that both colleges and employers look for students who have volunteered is because of the level of civil responsibility that students show through volunteering. When they volunteer, students are able to give back to their communities in a way that enriches their lives and the lives of those in the community. Being that Memphis has a panoply of volunteer options, students can gain skills in a variety of areas, from learning how to make burritos with Urban Bicycle Food Ministry to learning how to garden with Memphis Tilth. In doing so, they are able to invest in their communities and give back.
In summary, here’s what volunteering can do for you:
- Learn: volunteering allows you to learn about your community and the issues that exist, such a homelessness and hunger.
- Explore: take what you have learned and apply it! Help reduce hunger by volunteering with MIFA or Manna.
- Grow: track your hours with our platform, VolunteerCompass, to show off your involvement.