The Benefits of Volunteering

1799 Words8 Pages
Today in society, most Americans involve themselves in their community by performing some sort of volunteer work; whether it be working at an engineering firm, a food pantry, or coaching a soccer team. This makes most people who volunteer feel good about themselves, improves their self esteem, and “gives one in despair a sense of hope” (Geiger). But does anyone truly look at the benefits of volunteering in its entirety? What does volunteering really do for the person who is dedicating their time and energy for no cost whatsoever? Volunteering benefits the individual socially, mentally, physically, and gives one the skills that can be invaluable in the workforce. Volunteering helps develop the social skills needed to forge bonds between others that develop into strong friendships and gives young volunteers leadership skills (such as planning meetings, organizing fundraisers, etc.) that they will use later on in life. It also improves mental health by giving an individual a “sense of purpose” in life by improving self-esteem. With a sense of purpose comes awareness and responsibility which has shown to improve physical health. Volunteering also significantly improves and teaches skills that an individual can use to help advance a career. It gives one a great learning opportunity which a college class does not commonly provide. These skills are building blocks for skills needed to be successful both in life and in the workforce. Volunteering provides benefits that dieting, exercise, and healthcare cannot provide. Volunteering gives the individual a great deal of social skills. Volunteering allows a student to improve the social skills needed to make friends, and therefore improve self esteem among the individual volunteering. This “strengthens ties to the community, and broadens the support network, exposing individuals to people with common interests,
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