How would you describe your current high school experience? If it feels like a never-ending saga of classes and homework, it’s time to pause.
There’s not much you can do about your school hours, but what about those you spend at leisure? Avoid doomscrolling and invest a few hours each week into something helpful and exciting.
Volunteering offers the best of both worlds. You can stop dreaming about your career and jump into trying new things. Take it to be a sneak peek into your future without any unnecessary deadlines or tests.
Ready to discover how volunteering can be more fun than binge-watching another Netflix series? Well, this article will share three such ideas that will also help you explore your future career paths.
Collaborate With Local Social Service Organizations or Non-Profits
Have you ever dreamed of saving the world? You can always start with your community, though perhaps that is a bit unrealistic. Volunteering with neighborhood non-profits or social service agencies makes this possible.
Let’s examine a summary of the various volunteer opportunities at non-profits that are appropriate for high school students:
- At a nearby food bank, sort, pack, or serve meals to those in need.
- Assist with feeding cats or walking dogs at a nearby animal shelter.
- Take part in neighborhood cleanup campaigns to enhance public areas or plant trees.
- Run awareness campaigns or raise money to support events.
- Set up booths at events, start donations, or help with workshops.
If you’re willing, there’s no shortage of ways to roll up your sleeves and make a difference. In doing all of this, you will get a real taste of what working in social services feels like.
Who knows, you could discover a deep passion for working in this field yourself. It’s flickers like these that encourage students to pursue even advanced courses, such as a Master’s in Social Work (MSW).
Many even take up hybrid MSW programs that offer a mix of online learning and hands-on experience. It’s possible to complete such courses in as little as 16 months.
With such advanced-level programs, one’s career prospects only get better. As mentioned by the University of the Pacific, students can assume roles of child welfare caseworkers or even medical social workers. What begins in volunteering holds the potential to turn into such specific career options (how cool is that!).
Tutor or Mentor Younger Students
Without a cape, is it possible to feel like a superhero? Indeed! You only need to mentor or tutor younger pupils. High school students who are willing to volunteer are sought after by schools, community centers, and even libraries.
Your responsibilities could include assisting the children with their homework or involving them in enjoyable projects. Just a couple of hours each week can turn you into someone’s personal hero. There will certainly be extra points for patience and clever explanations.
It’s a deep relief to offer your time and brainpower for free just to watch someone else succeed. There may be no paychecks involved, but you will get paid with something even better: high-fives and thank-yous. Plus, few joys come close to watching a child’s eyes light up when they finally “get it.”
Here’s the bonus hiding for you in all this: tutoring and mentoring allow you to explore your future career. Not sure how exactly? Let’s understand:
- You can figure out whether teaching or psychology could be your thing.
- Such experiences will instill skills involving communication and problem-solving.
- You gain experience that looks great on a resume.
- It’s a way to discover firsthand how adults guide and motivate others.
Some states, like Connecticut, even award high school students who volunteer in their community. The Serve Connecticut Community Impact Award is given to each student who has 20 hours of service.
In addition to being fulfilling, helping others is becoming more and more popular nationwide. Joining this trend will allow you to be a part of a generation that truly makes an impact.
Volunteer at a Local Hospital or Clinic
Have you ever considered joining a medical team without having to deal with scrubs or needles? Well, volunteering at a local clinic or healthcare facility can be your backstage pass!
You can get a glimpse of how the healthcare world functions by participating in other activities, such as:
- Delivering meals
- Assisting with patient check-ins
- Greeting and guiding visitors
- Engaging in data entry and other administrative work
- Managing social media campaigns or newsletters
- Helping organize community events
Making a difference is another benefit besides offering patients your time and energy for free. It’s a fantastic method to comprehend the variety of roles in healthcare. You never know which one(s) might arrest your interest.
Additionally, this volunteer opportunity forces you to confront life’s harsh realities. You’ll see how important soft skills are, particularly empathy and teamwork.
The healthcare industry is undoubtedly one where there is a huge harvest, but only a few workers. Is it any wonder that a $250 initiative was launched in 2024 to bring healthcare experiences directly to US high schools? This is to inspire students early on and encourage future healthcare careers.
So, if you have a few hours to spare each week, then why not? Find out whether your superpower lies in helping others in the world of healthcare. All the while, you’ll have loads of fun and meet new like-minded folks.
In light of what we just discussed, you will be glad to know that the future of volunteering is also expected to shift. Bite-sized experiences will replace routine, in-person engagements.
This means flexibility will reign with episodic, short-term assignments. You can discover tasks that fit within your agenda. The best part? You can engage with as many different types of volunteering projects as you like.
So, what are you waiting for? Your future depends on what you do today. Have you shortlisted a few interesting volunteering opportunities yet?
