Volunteering Turns Your Compassion Into Action

Volunteering with passion is key.

From personal experience, I have found that volunteering can feed the soul. It can provide something that is missing in one’s life or can be a requirement for a particular field of interest or it can be something as simple as giving back to your community. When you volunteer for something that you are passionate about it checks all of these boxes and then some. Many pre-med students who volunteer are not always doing the majority of their volunteering in the medical sector but are doing things they love.

During your four years in college and beyond, it is incredibly important to volunteer for any or all of the above reasons, but also to add to your insight about where you really want to go and what you want to do. Academics tell you some of the stories, but you may find by actually doing something, related to your major or not, that your preferences become more clear or even redirected. And depending on what major you are and if your plans include grad school, this same volunteering could increase your chances of getting into the program you’re seeking. Like your undergrad application to UNF, when you start applying to graduate schools, you want to stand out.

Another aspect for students to consider, especially those who are specifically medical, engineering, or agriculture majors, is that they may find volunteering opportunities through research and vice versa. This is a great option to explore because research and volunteering are often two significant portions of any application that a student can then dovetail and make doubly impactful.

So now you’re asking, “How do I find these experiences?” UNF has incredible resources to help find volunteer opportunities. For example, you can volunteer at Ogier Gardens, get involved with environmental volunteer opportunities such as Food Fighters, or use UNF’s volunteer program which connects you to a variety of volunteer genres in the Jacksonville area.

Most college students are trying to find paid jobs or internships. As most of us are college students on budgets, this is pretty understandable. There is, however, a value in both interning and/or volunteering without pay. Objectively, it can be a signal to future employers that this student is invested in their field of study without the incentive of money. Subjectively, it can be a barometer for how much you really like doing something just for the sake of doing it, or should you be trying something different?

Having a strong personal statement is key to moving forward in both the academic and job worlds, and using volunteering as a means to enhance your resume and reinforce your chosen pursuit is worth all the time and effort.

Here are some suggestions that will help you find one of these enriching experiences:

Pre-Health/Professional

If you are a pre-health major, you could volunteer at UF Health at Jacksonville, Hospice or shadow at the Red Cross

Social Work

The Duval County Public Schools need mentors and classroom volunteers. With a few hours a week, your impact on children now could help better shape their future. To learn more about the different ways you can get involved in the schools, call the School Volunteers Office at (904) 390-2960.

Here are more community organizations that are happy to use your volunteering spirit:

Big Brothers Big Sisters/United Nations/YMCA/Meals on Wheels/American Cancer Foundation

Finance

Many finance majors will discover that they need to have an internship, but HaveUHeard that volunteering can also provide opportunities to find a job? Possible volunteer opportunities could include the Income Tax Assistant Programs. You might also seek volunteer roles with college clubs, or try assisting students with financial decisions (FAFSA and/or tax forms) or even help local non-profits by supporting the financial side of their endeavors.

Engineering

Agriculture

Volunteering in this area seems to be more goal-oriented because there are so many aspects to agriculture (GMO research, sustainable agriculture, animal or crop farming, soil research, water management, etc.). My personal advice would be to get hands-on experience at a local college or join a club on campus that then provides avenues to the specific people in your area of interest.

There are opportunities to work abroad and here in the United States. One organization is the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), which provides a connection between organic farms that need volunteers and those who want to contribute to the functioning of an organic farm.

Business

Again, many business majors tend to look for required internships, but if volunteering is what you want to do, you can become a charity board member, lend your skills pro-bono, or bring your specialized business know-how to a small business as a volunteer.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.