College Admissions Essay: The Value Of Volunteer Service

As a volunteer I've learned the value of service to others and to the community, and I've seen the impact it has on those involved. I’ve seen so many people, especially through church outreach, positively affected by those who use their time and talents to serve others. Although volunteering has benefited me externally in many ways, such as my Eagle Scout Project and NHS hours, I’ve also gained a greater understanding of who I am as a person. I’ve learned how important service is and how it can benefit myself and others around

I have been volunteering at the University of Maryland Medical Center since the summer of my freshman year. As a volunteer at the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, I am committed to provide excellence in service, work independently and efficiently, and exhibit patient interaction skills. Ever since I have started volunteering at the hospital, I have learned to become more patient and understanding toward the people who I interact with, and consequently, I have become a more sympathetic and compassionate person.

Volunteering gives me the opportunity to be there for someone and to change people’s lives including my own. Volunteering to me is a way of giving back to the community or someone in need of help. For as long as I can remember I have always had the passion for helping people especially children and the aged, thus my interest in nursing. Any opportunity to perform an act of kindness made me happy that at least I could be of help to someone. From taking care of my siblings and cousins, babysitting, helping friends and among others. Of the many goals I have in life the most important one is to provide help to those in need through my commitment of service. I volunteered at a daycare school closer to me and

I have always prided myself in being involved in my community. Outside of school, I spend most of my free time volunteering at my church, First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. On Sunday nights I get the opportunity to share my love of music with my peers, leading them in worship as one of the lead singers of the Youth Praise band. On Wednesdays I volunteer teaching elementary school children music as well. I do several other odd jobs around the church as well, whenever I am needed. Besides music, one of my hobbies is hiking. Wilderness Trail is a backpacking ministry for youth based in south west Virginia. The past 3 years I have spent my summer volunteering for a month with the organization, both leading groups as well as helping organize future events. By getting the chance to combine my love to help with my love for the outdoors, it makes for the perfect marriage.

For as long as I can remember, I always had the passion to assist others. I find joy in helping others because I enjoy seeing others happy. In my earlier years as a child I would see other children just like myself but some were not exactly like me. They were unable to do things on their own, unable to walk, or maybe just a little different. I was not the type of person even as a child to look at others any different than myself because I realized everyone was still human. Everyday throughout my middle school years I would go to school happy, because I found joy in first finishing my work then maybe helping others who needed help.

Volunteering and participating in service projects are two of the most rewarding activities in my opinion. Some people may find it was a hassle or only do it because they have to meet the minimum requirement for school or work. Helping others, for me, has always been somewhat second nature to me. Over many years of volunteering I believe I have developed qualities that will stick with me for life and benefit me in my career. As early as freshman year, in high school, I found myself looking for ways to give back. I started by looking for opportunities within school, where I came across the A+ tutoring program, and so my journey of giving back began. While tutoring, my patience for others really evolved, partly by choice and partly because

There are many different places that you can volunteer at, and they are very good choices. Places like the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, and Red Cross are all excellent places to volunteer, and I respect and encourage any person that is willing to put in time for an organization and not get anything out of it. I know how hard it is to say to yourself that you will get up and help an organization for nothing because I have done it. I also know the how rewarding it is to volunteer. This is partially one of the reasons that I volunteer. I personally prefer an organization, called Camp of the Rising Son. I prefer to volunteer at Camp of the Rising Son as a cabin counselor because of the fact that they are a Christian organization that teaches young children about Christ, and that I already have the necessary skills needed to excel, and because of the impact it makes on my life personally.

Volunteering to me didn’t seem very pleasing at first. My focus was simply getting the hours I needed to make my resume look good. However, my perspective changed when I began getting involved with the various activities of the community. I enjoyed helping and serving others, seeing the positive impact I made gave me a great satisfaction. Thankfully, I have volunteered in many areas, however there are a few organizations in which I have invested more time and effort.

As a student, I have demonstrated many works of service to my community and school. Service opportunities have shaped me into the person I am today and these projects have made me realize how fortunate I am for all that I have. While I've been doing these service projects through the years, it has been a pleasure seeing the joy on the faces of people that aren't as fortunate as I am. Service projects that I have completed include managing the fish booth at the St. Leo's Parish Festival, being an altar server at St. Leo's Parish, helping cook dinner for the Ridgway Fire Department during carnival day setup, participating in the St. Marys Light Up Night by dancing, and Christmas caroling to local residents. I also participated in a zombie/princess

Most people find volunteering a fulfilling and rewarding experience. However, I do not always feel that way. Sometimes I feel like my work is not very enjoyable or that it contributes little to helping others. Thankfully, at Maliheh Free Clinic, I felt not only that my work was fun and helpful but that I was part of a family--a family of volunteers, doctors, and patients. My internship at Maliheh taught me the joy of helping others through dedication and hard work.

Service learning has given me the new opportunity experience helping others and including myself. I enjoy volunteer work because It’s a way of giving back to the community, but also I’ve become confident in public speaking. In addition, volunteer work is a great rewarding experience, and it 's also helped me develop social skills, by supporting others. The contribute can make a positive impact in many ways, Barack Obama said, “ the best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the work with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” There are element that could promise will succeed in life, however, I believe to learn and discover. I will continue volunteering work whenever I can, and I strongly encourage people to join volunteer work because the meaningful impact the lives of their and help thousands of the students confront in reading. It was a great pleasure for me to contribute to the organization to the development of the community through Political Science class volunteering work. The impact that was able to make our community better future.

Surrendering my free time to serve others, is often times not something I crave to do. Selfish ambitions take over, and consequently, I participate in activities I find pleasing to me rather than others. However, when I take the time to assist others and take action in my community, I have found that it is a rewarding experience. Volunteering has never led me to anything negative, and it has allowed me to be a part of a positive and uplifting experience. My desire to volunteer may consume my time, but the countless rewards I receive from volunteering are priceless. Offering my time to organizations has allowed me to become more humble, see the happiness it brings to people, and improve my social skills.

My project involved helping the children in the park to better their skills in Baseball. Many of the children that went to the park had no basic knowledge of playing baseball, so it was my job to help the professional trainers in teaching them the skills required to play the sport well. The original proposal included that I had to maintain the field in playable conditions, but I went ahead and added dirt as well as passed a rake to remove holes in the infield of the baseball diamond. I also had to help the smaller children in batting practice by simply pitching them ten balls each, but I took it a step further by telling them in which way to position their arms and how to better their hitting techniques.

“Volunteers are not paid; not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.” - Sherry Anderson (Volunteering Quotes: Finest Quotes).

Nowadays, it is very difficult to get a job without a College Diploma. Our ever-increasing demands on student’s academic performances have insured well-educated adults, but what we have failed to focus on is the vital component of volunteerism as an integral part of rearing well-rounded adults. College students should be required to complete a year of community service/volunteer work before they can graduate, in order to create mature and caring adults and versatile future leaders. By mandating all College students across the United States of America to add another year to their studies and use this year for community service/volunteer work only, we will be able to increase their knowledge of community need, civic responsibility, and allow