College students are in a unique stage of life and are uniquely qualified to serve. You have some things to offer that others just don’t have. Before you start a relationship in a community service situation, spend some time thinking about a good match between what you have to offer and what the real needs are. To help you along, here are a set of questions to consider:
There are occasionally situations in our community where college students can be helpful on a one time basis, but the most meaningful service opportunities (both for the student and the organization they serve) happen over the long haul.
- When are you available - mornings, afternoon, evenings, weekends? Sometimes the flexibility of a college student’s schedule is just what an organization needs.
- What are you excited about? The energy level of college students is another potential gift to the community - both your physical energy as a younger person and your emotional energy, your level of excitement about wanting to do something that matters.
- What are you good at and what have you done before? Maybe you grow up with lots of brothers and sisters and know how to work with kids or maybe you did a lot of projects around the house so are familiar with how to paint or use a drill. Think about the real life experience you offer.
- What have you been learning that you’d like to put to use? Maybe you’ve been taking an interesting class and would like to practice some of the things you’ve talked about there.
- What do you love? Think about the sorts of things that make you excited - music, sports, construction, architecture, playing, talking one on one, elderly people, kids, food, cooking, crafts....
- What do you want to learn? Maybe there are skills you’d like to develop - talking with people, construction, painting, food preparation, program planning… Volunteering with an agency who is able to teach you may work out for you and for them.
