There is a "new" discovery about how to live a happier life: community service! Whether you are a young child, in high school, in college, a middle-aged working adult, or an elderly person; engaging in community service will benefit you in many different ways. Research shows that community service increases social emotional health, connects you to the community, and widens your skill set and your network. Furthermore, research demonstrates that community service is good for your health and lifespan, especially among older adults, because it "enriches our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others and helping us feel a sense of purpose and well-being" (Study: Volunteering Is Good for Your Health, 2020).
Here are a few more reasons to sign up today:
Happiness Boost - A Harvard study revealed that people who engage in community service are happier than people who do not. Moreover, people who engage in community service repeatedly throughout the month are happier than people who engage in community service once a month.
Widen your skill set - Volunteering will allow you to learn new skills or refine skills you already have. Some examples of skills that you can learn are: public speaking, organization, event coordination, professionalism, creating presentations, leadership, collaboration, and technology (Outlook, Excel, Google Sheets, etc.), among others. You will also notice certain strengths you have and things you can improve on. Participating in trainings is also a good opportunity to learn and refine skills.
Career Exploration - You will get the opportunity to explore a variety of jobs and career fields, which will help determine tasks that you enjoy or do not. This may help you reach a decision on which college and/or degree to pursue.
Improve your candidacy for applications - Community service improves your candidacy for scholarship applications, college applications, job applications, or any other application. In fact, some universities highly recommend community service from students for acceptance into the university.
Expand your network - Volunteering helps you improve your socialization and relationships. You will learn to collaborate with people who have different work styles, and you will get the opportunity to meet new managers, colleagues, mentors, and friends. The Department of Education reported that students who engage in community service have "a positive impact on the social skills of students" ( You will build a network that can also support you when you are submitting applications.
Improve your confidence - Exposure to different job fields, responsibilities, work environments, tasks, skills, and problem-solving will improve your confidence in yourself and your work. You will be more prepared to address any challenges, and you will have built a skill set to rely on.
Strengthen your resume - Community service bolsters resumes and shows well-rounded individuals who are interested in improving their community. You can add any skills, tech skills and responsibilities that you were in charge of while volunteering.
Research your community for any volunteering opportunities. You can do a local search or call a company of your choice and ask for any volunteer opportunities.
Here are a few more places to consider:
Community service clubs in your school
Community service clubs outside of your school
Non-profit organizations
Religious affiliation/church
Local community events
Animal shelters
Libraries
YMCA
Red Cross
Check out VolunteerMatch.org for more community service opportunities. Volunteering will fulfill you in more ways than you can imagine, Winston Churchill said it best, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
References:
“Study: Volunteering Is Good for Your Health.” News, 16 June 2020, www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/study-volunteering-is-good-for-your-health.
Azfal, Azmina. "Impact of Community Service Learning on the Social Skills of Students." Journal of Education and Educational Development, 2020. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1259929.pdf