High school is the time where students start their SAT preparations to get admission to a good University. Besides, looking up ways to boost their academic performance students should also look for ways to boost their overall personality. Exploring their passion and dedication to extracurricular activities can strengthen their confidence and persona. One of the best ways to explore their interest and build an experience report over it is to take up community service.
We have already discussed in an article how community service background has become very important for students to mention in their University applications and how universities undertake admissions based on the strong community service experience. Taking up community service just for the sake of getting into a good college is not going to help students to have their personal growth and universities most of the time figure out applications that have mentioned fake community service essays.
It is unsaid that students should volunteer for community service to gain qualities that no classroom can teach them. In volunteering, they learn how to express their views in a more informed manner, they learn leadership qualities, develop critical thinking, and experience that shapes their personality for the better. Not knowing the benefits of community services many students ignore it and keep on taking their SAT coaching to improve their marks, but SATs alone will not favor applicants who aspire to study in prestigious colleges to get their higher degrees.
Often students don’t take a community service because they have prejudice regarding this activity. Some believe community service is all about cleaning streets, picking up cans, taking the garbage out of the river, etc. But to be honest, community service is more than that where students can volunteer to serve their community according to their interests. By taking community service that aligns with their interests, students not only can create an impact on society but can also explore themselves personally. Colleges lookup for students who are determined about certain activities and have contributed with them in the community activities to make sure they will be able to contribute to their campus. Therefore, it’s important to have a community service that is related to your interests.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ALIGN YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH YOUR INTEREST?
By contributing their time and efforts students can gain experience that they can cherish for their lifetime and they also get personal satisfaction by volunteering for the benefit of the community. The reason it is advised to take up a community service in the field that students are passionate about is because this student can contribute successfully and happily towards the mission and they leave satisfied at the end of their community service period.
Below we have mentioned a few reasons in this article of Eduquest, why students should take up service they are passionate about:
- Improves management skills
Students who take up a community service that is related to their interest helps them to improve their management skills. In a community service for which they are passionate about they not only serve the community but also work on their personal growth and manage both things to have a wider experience.
- Enriches the volunteer experience
When you volunteer for a service that has a relation with your interest, your skill in the particular field enriches and grows itself. With enriched skills and a volunteer service that gives you satisfaction, you can create a tangible change in the community.
- Act as a bridge
Students who genuinely want to create a difference in the community should take up a service to which they can contribute wholeheartedly. No doubt, community service that is accompanied with passion creates tremendous changes and students can act as a bridge between services and underprivileged people which not only makes other people happy but also leaves the volunteers satisfied.
HOW YOU CAN FIND A COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT IS RELATED TO YOUR PASSION?
Students find it hard or even believe impossible to find a community service that aligns with their interests but it is not true. They need to understand that there are several other ways in community service to make a change and that not all services attract all the people. We are going to discuss ways through which students can find a service that is not only valuable for them but also for the community but before that, we have mentioned such community services examples for you.
EXAMPLES OF SUCH COMMUNITY SERVICES
By going through several community organizations and groups we have compiled a few examples of community services and the role in which students can volunteer and it also aligns with their interests. You can look up the list and figure out which role and community service interests you and in which you can create a difference as well as can have a good learning experience.
Community services fields
- Art and Culture
- Education
- Environment
- Mental and physical health
- Equality
- Homelessness (helping poor people)
Role students can volunteer for
- Youth educator (providing education to underprivileged children)
- Fundraising
- Healthcare
- Cooking
WAYS TO FIND OUT THE BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR YOU
- Introspect your interests
Several students have various interests and have been involved in different activities but they have not been able to create any significant difference in the community. Reasons for that can be several but we are not here to discuss that. For students to be involved in community service that they can be passionate about is to choose it according to their interest and to do that it is very important for them to first find their interests.
To find your interest you can focus on things that you enjoy doing and introspect them by spending more time doing them. For example, if a student is interested in cooking he or she can spend more time helping their mother in the kitchen, watching cooking shows, or joining cooking classes. It is very important for you to analyze different aspects of your interest and once you figure out what hobby you are more passionate about, you can plan out ideas to which you can serve the local community with the help of your interest.
- Look in the plain sight
Finding the right community service is not that hard and often students can find one in the places they think they cannot find. For that, all they have to do is outreach and research to get information about the activities that are provided by groups and local organizations in which they can be involved to serve their community for the best. You can start asking your school teachers, school clubs, local organizations that work in your locality or shelter homes.
Contacting local organizations can be beneficial for students because they can ask about the services that they offer to people and if any of their interests match the service opportunity provided by them. Many students think that being involved in unusual community service is important but it is the opposite of that. Serving your community through your interests that provide you with a meaningful experience is more important than being involved in several services. There’s no harm in taking the usual road. Colleges generally lookup for the participation background of the student rather than an unusual volunteering service.
- Think with a different perspective
There are chances that students may not find a community service opportunity that matches their interest but there is no need to give up. You can always create your services and opportunities. Let’s take the example of cooking that we used above. Suppose you don’t get an opportunity to cook for people then you can always help the main volunteers or even organize a fundraising mission for the organization to prepare food for underprivileged people. Being part of community service doesn’t mean you have to be in a limelight to make a difference. All you can do is use your skills to further a mission and help in the growth of your local community.
- Take the help of your networks
Last but not least you can use your networks to find the best community service for yourself. This is one of the best ways to find an opportunity that matches your interest. use your relationships and connections that you would have built by being involved in your school activities or other internships to find the opportunities in which you can involve yourself to serve your community.
By talking to others you not only get information on services that are available but you also get to know other details regarding the field of your interest which is beneficial for you to have personal growth. Using your networks can help you widen your vision in the field of your interest and it can connect you with opportunities and additional activities that you might have never thought about.
CONCLUSION
Being part of community service is significant for not only college application but also to get a different perspective regarding their future endeavors. The thing that they should always keep in their mind is to volunteer for the community service that they enjoy and can help the community to grow and develop in the best way possible.
RELEVANT NEWS:-
TIPS FOR STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED IN A COMMUNITY SERVICE
HOW CAN GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY IN A HOLIDAY SEASON?
HOW STUDENTS CAN MAKE IMPACT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE WORLD OF CLASSROOM?
HOW COMMUNITY SERVICE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PROCESS OF COLLEGE ADMISSION?