By: Kate Weiser
Today I am always running through the day, juggling my responsibilities, and barely making time to catch my breath. I know there are a lot of people out there in the same situation. I have tried many outlets of my stress– swimming, running, talking, writing, petting dogs, yoga, and retail therapy (sorry bank account). I seemed to keep getting burnt out right away. Most of these outlets were centered on myself, which works for most, but not for me.
Community service has always been apart of my life. We didn’t really make a big deal of it. The town that I was raised in and the people I was surrounded by throughout my childhood were kind people who would always be there for you and serve the community in any way possible. It is probably the key to why my town is connected. Once I got to college I felt an emptiness inside even though I was involved in social and academic groups. Then I found Bear Breaks and they provided me service opportunities that I was missing. I joined Bear Breaks freshman year by going on their New Orleans spring break service trip in 2018 and today I am the director of membership and education of the organization. There are many reasons why I have stayed with the program.
Here are just a few simple reasons why I always make time to do community service in my busy life and why you should too:
Explore the Culture
You get to meet people (and animals) of all ages and backgrounds when volunteering. You get to learn more than just their names. You learn about their passion, community, and character. I found that truly getting to know the people work alongside you break down stereotypes and opens up a new networking path.
Explore Your Interests
College is all about finding yourself. If you are feeling like you need to find your place in the world, taking up a few community service hours could help. Volunteering is an avenue to search focuses that you express interest in. I encourage people to find a service topic that truly interests them and then dive in. It is just like finding a career. You want to be passionate about the service before investing so much time and energy in it.
Making a Difference
Working towards something that is bigger than yourself is rewarding. As I grow older and wiser, I realize becoming involved in my community through service will always be apart of my life and I will always look forward to it. Next time when you finish up your community service hours I hope you take time to reflect on the work and impact before adding it to your resume.