Moving From The Classroom To Your Community

We won’t be in high school forever, guys. We all live in communities across the United States, but how much do we really know about what is going on in our own cities, towns, or communities? 

When I was 13, I started volunteering at a local women’s shelter in my hometown in Maryland. The experience taught me about the struggles that many people face and how hard it is to find affordable housing in my area. It also taught me about the importance of treating everyone fairly and kindly and that we all aren’t that much different from each other—no matter where we live. It helped me appreciate what I have, and I became determined to be a help to others. 

What I have found out more recently is that volunteerism doesn’t just help others, but me too—and there is research to prove it. Studies have found that volunteering in your community increases your sense of worth and happiness. According to 2023 study “volunteers have less depression, less anxiety, higher self-esteem, higher life satisfaction, greater happiness, and a greater sense of meaning in life.” 

As an 11th grade student, I know that high school is stressful—especially this school year. We all need to focus on our happiness and mental health—and volunteering in our communities is one way to do it! 

There are many ways to get involved. You can search for opportunities through your high school or by looking at your county, or city websites. Some cities have volunteering websites where you can find non-profit organizations that are looking for volunteers and are searchable by your age or type of work you want to do. You could also contact your local American Job Center and it may have information about organizations in your area. 

If that wasn’t enough to convince you, consider these other important and proven benefits to volunteering:

• Learn practical skills: At our age it can be hard to get a job or internship in our areas of interest, but you may be able to volunteer at an organization that will help you learn about a career you are interested in pursuing. Volunteering can also help you build public speaking, organizational, and professionalism skills needed on a job. 
• Create leadership capacities: Volunteering can give you a chance to start a task and figure out how to finish it within a deadline, work on a team, or present something you have researched. The need for leadership traits in the modern workforce is always present. Employers want someone who can take the initiative and work with others and volunteering will help build these abilities.
• Build connections outside of school: Volunteering will help you meet new people at local businesses and non-profit organizations and build relationships with others who can vouch for your hard work. 
• Increase your own sense of happiness: Volunteering is just good for you. An article from the Mayo Clinic Health System found that volunteering “increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common interests.” 
• Give back to your community: Finally, volunteering gives you a chance to not only learn more about what is happening in your hometown, but to learn more about those around you, and express appreciation for all you have.  

It may be hard to know where to start. You may not feel like you can make a difference. But you can. We can all make small differences in the lives of others. What I have learned is that volunteering hasn’t just changed others’ lives, but mine too.