Student Community Service

Get Involved and Gain Experience with Student Community Service

If you want to get involved in your college or surrounding community and gain valuable work experience then you should participate in a student community service project. Community service is a rewarding non-loan option that may not pay you with money, but it can help you develop the social skills and experience needed to get a good job. Just like grants and scholarships are free sources to help fund your college education, student community service is a free source for personal and professional gratification.

Types of Community Service Projects

Even though many people associate community service as a form of punishment for convicted criminals, it is also an act performed by caring individuals who want to contribute to the betterment of their community. Some forms of community service are:

• Volunteer work for the Boys Scouts or Girl Scouts
• Clerical duty for the American Red Cross
• Serving food at a homeless shelter
• Cleaning a community park or stream
• Aiding in a nursing home
• Volunteering at the local fire department
• Collecting food for needy families
• Tutoring special-needs children

Many high school students are required to finish a certain number of community service hours in order to graduate from high school. The number of hours and type of community service they complete often make them highly recruited by colleges and universities. It is a great source to put on your college application.

College students often serve community service hours to fill in their free time and to gain volunteer experience to put on their resumes. Most college students that are involved in student community service programs work with surrounding youth from local schools as a tutor or a mentor. This helps college students strengthen their social and academic skills and gives kids a positive influence in their lives. For most fraternities and sororities, community service is required to maintain your active membership.

The Benefits of Community Service

There are limitless benefits to participating in student community service projects. Even though you are volunteering your time for free, what you get out of your student community service is something money can't buy. Here's why:

• It's personally fulfilling and will make you feel good about yourself
• You will become part of a larger community beyond your school
• You'll make new friends and meet interesting people in the community
• You'll develop strong leadership skills
• Your self-esteem will rise
• Many young lives and families will benefit from your hard work and they will forever appreciate you
• Your grades will get better because you are learning the value of time management and dedication
• You can help small organizations build up their reputation, and they could be great references or possible employers in your future
• You'll develop a sense of responsibility which will help you through college and for the rest of your life
• It is a great reference to put down when you apply for future grants and scholarships
• Doing student community service in a field you are interested can help you decide on your future goals

Before you begin your student community service hours you should take into account your special interests, your skills, if you have a car to get to your service, your available hours and your commitment. If you think that you have the desire to help others and can fully commit to a student community service program, then make it part of your monthly routine.