Cyber Scholars: Community service will change your life

CHRISTMAS is the time to think about the gift of giving. Over the holiday season, I hope you will use some of the research skills we’ve explored in our cyber library classes to learn about the importance of community service. Giving through community service helps you develop many of the skills you need for life and university. It will change your life.

Community service helps you to develop collaboration skills and empathy. It always requires time management, communication and research skills. You will need to use your research skills to find the project that suits you best.

Most sites you explore in your research will tell you how volunteering and community service benefit you physically, mentally and academically. Over the long run, people who volunteer have lower blood pressure, fewer stress-related diseases and less depression.

Many US-based universities either require or look favourably on community service. Gone are the days when your academic performance and letters of recommendation alone will get you accepted. Universities now want to see how much you are involved in your community.

Here are some sites that will get you started on your research.

First, read about why community service is important. Remember, if you can’t copy the link, pick out the important words in the link and string them together with a plus (+) sign. For example, for the following link, you can do a google search for Whitby school + passion for learning + why community service is important, and you will also find this link: https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/why-is-community-service-important.

This site discusses the important personal and academic skills you will learn in community service, including leadership, collaboration, time management, communication skills and more. There’s also an interesting section entitled Get Ahead in the College Admission entitled 5 Reasons Why Students Should Engage in Community Service.

A student blog from the State University of New York offers an interesting perspective from a student: https://blog.suny.edu/2020/02/5-reasons-why-students-should-engage-in-community-service/

We often think of research as looking up information online, but finding the perfect community service project will require creative research on your part. You’ll need to make phone calls to companies and organisations, question your parents, religious organisations and teachers.

Before you make those calls, you should look at onlineschools.org student volunteering guide at https://www.onlineschools.org/student-volunteer-guide/. This site provides a useful guide of behaviours and protocols you should observe while volunteering. It also tells you things not to do, which are equally important. Advice ranges from “do find a cause you are interested in; don’t be afraid to ask questions; don’t force help on people or be intrusive.” There’s a list of important questions to ask before you go for your first meeting with whatever organisation you are volunteering for.

One of my favourite articles is entitled Volunteering may be good for body and mind. Posted by Harvard Health Publishing of the Harvard Medical School, the article talks about the mental health benefits of volunteering. Type Harvard health + volunteering or check out this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/volunteering-may-be-good-for-body-and-mind-201306266428 .

At a site called Healthline, there’s a fascinating article called How your brain lights up when you help. This article examines the results of brain scans on people who volunteer. Find it at https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-helping-people-affects-your-brain#How-your-brain-lights-up-when-you-help

Check out this Facebook page that highlights many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Trinidad  and Tobago and find out what work they do.

https://ttngo-news.com/trinidad-tobago-ngo-nonprofit-facebook/.

Another good place to check for many NGOs in TT is this link: https://thevolunteerconnectiontrinidad.info/contact-us.

Of course you can use your own creativity to come up with projects. Community service requires time, money and effort. Sometimes it is difficult to find the time, but you can come up with interesting, creative ways to do fundraising that can help religious organisations or NGOs.

Finding the right fit for you might seem daunting. Just take one step at a time. Start by talking to your parents, teachers and librarian. Talk to your friends about how you can work together for a more meaningful experience. Make sure that you choose small, manageable projects that complement your schoolwork and don’t take time away from your studies.

Chances are you will be energised and get more work than ever done in school. Volunteering is a life-changing experience.
Have a very Merry Christmas, and think about the gift of giving through volunteering.