Why is community service important in todays world?

Community service has been a forever, long service done through giving people
of communities in the effort to bring up their neighborhood. These selfless acts of
kindness have been passed through the generations with the same undertones. As
volunteering services have grown through the times, there are now more available means
of community services for people to involve themselves with. Those who taken on
community service projects have greatly benefited from their work, gaining memorable
experiences, and building unique character traits.
Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.Such as
volunteering increases self-confidence.Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your
self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the
community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer
can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the
more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
The volunter also can volunteering combats depression.Reducing the risk of
depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is
social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you
develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression
when youre going through challenging times.
Volunteering also helps you stay physically healthy.Volunteering is good for
your health at any age, but its especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found
that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when
considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown
to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.
For those who are unfamiliar with volunteering, the thought of commitment
comes to mind. The commitment that is made to volunteering is slightly different, for in
most volunteering situations, you create as much of a commitment as you want. People
have the option to volunteer as much of their own time as they are willing, still allowing
them to remain focused on their school, work, and personal lives. As there are some
services that do ask for a longer time commitment, you still are able to give as much time

for a certain project as you want.

Students are always encouraged to volunteer for not only the experience and
character building, but also for applying for colleges. The admission levels for
universities is becoming more competitive, asking for more out incoming students. One
major tool that has been helpful to setting themselves apart from most of their peers is
their volunteering services. It is recommended that students volunteer in subjects and
projects that they have an interest in, so that this way, it promotes their efforts within the
volunteering community. Students have volunteered at soup kitchens, museums, elderly
homes, and at school projects. What the students put into their volunteering experiences
will show immensly in their character. As these experiences are pointed out on their
applications, students have heard more acceptances than rejections.
Through volunteering, people who need an outlet for their character trait of
being kind and selfless, have been able to receive that satisfaction. People have
sometimes toiled with the notion of wanting to find some way to give back to their
community, and help those that cannot help themselves. Those in this situation have been
able to volunteer at soup kitchens and have discussions with people they serve,
brightening up their day and making them smile. Others have gone to hospitals and aided
with the elderly, having conversation with them and listening to stories of a time long
ago, gaining wisdom. The elderly in this situation are always more than thankful for
someone to have a conversation with someone and being listened to, especially if you are
someone who enjoys playing a game of chess! In the same scene, volunteers are also able
to work with children, playing games with them, reading and painting with them. Again,
putting a smile on their face is all the payment a volunteer needs to make them feel
grateful for doing this type of service.
Many people who have volunteered gain a type of growth that some can not get
anywhere else. Volunteers are given the opportunity to see this life from a variety of
different angles, giving them, at the end of the day, a sense of humility for their own
lives. When a person volunteers, they are able to give as much of their time as they want,
making the commitment their own. One of the easiest things about volunteering is getting
involved. There are countless organizations and charities that are always looking for an
extra hand to put a smile on someone's face. With all the opportunities available to

volunteer, a person can find their way into something that could change not just their life,
but also the life of another.
If youre considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in
your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if youre not planning on
changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used
in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning,
task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your
wings at work once youve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.
Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a
long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some
fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work youre
interested in. For example, if youre interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a
hospital or a nursing home. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional
organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.
Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are
basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you
could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a womens shelter
or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.
Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them
to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position,
you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further
developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.
These are great experiences and we need to see them bloom in small and large
communities all across the nation. Community service is a positive way of making the
community a better place for everyone. If we can approach community service, and raise
the standard so maybe the everyday people can once again rise to the heroic levels that
are so badly needed to turn around the world and make it better.

( 1175 words)

Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Gina Kemp, M.A. Last updated: September 2013.

://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/opinion/the-importance-of-communityservice/article_3d380994-c860-11e0-bb9f-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz2v0OvR100
JIM TERRY
By Sarbelle18 , Warren, MI