“40 hours of community service!?” – It does sound like a lot, especially when just entering high school and finding out that it’s absolutely mandatory. The most frequently asked question is: What benefit do I receive from performing community service and volunteering? To be honest, I just discovered the answer last week during a job interview. When I was asked, “Why do you want this job?” I replied that I did a lot of community service that related to customer service and public relations. It all clicked right there – yes, about five years later, it clicked that I really appreciate the fact that I did those community hours and there are so many reasons why you should start sooner than later!

Testing The Waters
Until you are legally able to work, it is a good idea to test the waters and see what works for you. By volunteering you get a chance to test many fields of work; there are so many opportunities out there for you. By searching and trying new things not only do you find out what works for you, but you gain experience to add to your growing resume. Employers love seeing what you have gotten your hands on, and it helps when you have relevant experience. For example: If you are volunteering for a customer service position in the future, it really helps to have relevant experience working and interacting with different people.

Networking
The places you volunteer at and the people you make connections with become your networks and references. Networks are important in the future as they can greatly help you find a job placement when you are ready. You can go back to them when you are legally able to work, and ask to be placed as an employee or ask for their contact information as a reference.

Finding Your Niche and Finding Some Fun
You are bound to meet a lot of fun and awesome people who may share similar interests. Another part of networking is making new friends outside of school, and in making these friendships you can help each other find and share new opportunities to work again in the future. Alongside that, when you find a place you find enjoyable, you will definitely want to stay for longer. This means that you will get a lot more than 40 hours.

YOU WILL GRADUATE!
Last but not least, you would have successfully completed your 40 hours of community service! Without even realising it, when I graduated high school I had more than 100 hours of community service, all because I found an array of positions I really enjoyed and wanted to do for fun. Volunteering with friends is also a big bonus!

How is completing 40 hours of community service relevant? High School helps shape you as a person and helps you experience life – without the “being an adult” part. You can shape your career path, you can find what you’re good at, and you can network with experienced professionals. It’s completely beneficial for you to complete those community service hours – so start now!