When it comes to our busy schedules, most people can’t even find the time to squeeze in a meal let alone find the time to volunteer. And much like the difficulties associated with deciding between which clubs to join in school it’s difficult to know which organization or charity to volunteer with. But, even if finding the time to volunteer seems daunting, there are plenty of places to volunteer and the benefits gained are something that could very potentially add to your life for the better.

When I was in high school, getting in my community service hours seemed more like a chore than anything else. I remember volunteering with my friend at her church and going to help serve food to the homeless in the winter. I felt like I needed to be there because I was pretty much forced into getting my hours in order to score my diploma. I’m not sure how it was with other high school students but that was definitely not the attitude to have walking into volunteer work.

Then university hit. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but in my third year I decided to become a volunteer note-taker for any students who were associated with the Accessibility Centre. It never once felt like a chore because I had decided on my own terms to do it. I knew that I was being relied on, which made me feel good, and I also knew that I was making a difference for the students who wanted to work with me. This feeling of helping and knowing I was making a difference eventually blossomed into me furthering my volunteer experience to becoming a study partner. Before she graduated, one of the women I was helping told me that I was the most wonderful, and dedicated person she had ever worked with. It was an incredible feeling and at the end of the year I knew that I had made a new friend. I was also even granted a certificate upon completing a year of volunteer work.

Volunteer work has lots to offer you. Not only will you make several connections with people but you’ll also be able to add something to your resume; the great feeling that comes with helping people benefits them but also you. You need to make sure that you do it for you though and not just because you have to, otherwise it’ll feel like work. There are lots of places you can go to volunteer, though some do require a commitment from you, which is another reason why you need to make sure you want to do it. But you have tons of options for where to volunteer. And by volunteering at one place, you open the door to more facilities and charities you can work with as well as enriching your experience in the workforce and in life.