Breaking Down Barriers – Part II

By: JBogle

About a week ago I was sent an article about volunteering, “Does Helping Help Out”. It talks about the impact volunteering can have on your resume and specifically what university administrators look for. It talks about how long term commitment to a local charity can be more impressive than volunteering through a short term trip abroad. But there are two factors that I think the article failed to mention.

• Passion. Volunteering should mean more than a box to check when applying to schools. It should align with something that gives you satisfaction because you’re genuinely interested in it. It’s not something that should stop after you land the dream job or get into your ideal school. A friend who has volunteered for the PARTY program for the past 7 years is now seeking out a new group and the first question she answered is What makes me happy? Even though volunteering is about helping someone else out, if you can combine your passions with helping others, you will be more excited about volunteering and you will likely give more to those in need. Win/win! And, if you volunteer with one group you’re passionate about, it’s more likely that you’ll meet others and learn about other groups you can help.
• Growth. If you enter every volunteer opportunity looking for ways to learn, you will grow as a person exponentially. Whether you’re feeding ice cream to an elderly person in Africa or in Calgary, you can learn something new. Your experience in Africa may teach you about a different culture, a different way of life based on different resources. Your experience in Calgary may teach you about compassion and it may put life in a different perspective. No matter what you’re doing, or where you’re doing it, volunteering provides a unique opportunity for personal growth in a safe environment. And it is also possible to help those you are assisting to realize personal growth in their life to. Again- win/win.

Volunteering is something that builds like a fire within. Its contagious if you can find the right fit. If you think about what’s in it for me in the utilitarian view of happiness and mix in personal development, then the resume boost becomes a distant secondary benefit, AND you’ll be giving more in an effortless way.

Bridges is wonderful because it provides volunteer opportunities in various environments. Whether you assist in the local chapter with administration, or fly abroad to train peer professionals, you’re assisting people in finding their potential while you find your own.