Volunteering Can Give Students The Experiences They Need To Make Informed Career Choices
By Heidi Kendrick, Stride Student Advisor
Choosing a career can be a difficult process, especially when you stop to consider the fact that there are so many options out there. There are many things you can do to help guide you towards a good career fit, and one of those things is definitely volunteering! There are so many volunteer options and ideas directed towards different career pathways, and I am going to share some of those with you in this blog.
As a Stride Career Prep student, like myself, you are able to find so many opportunities regarding career prep exploration. Students are granted access to numerous tools and to many key people, all of which are geared to help us find the right experiences. I recently met with my career counselor and discussed healthcare opportunities. I was told so many things I did not know before, which helped further my knowledge and awareness of viable opportunities.
If you are interested in the healthcare field, as I am, you can volunteer at a wide variety of places. Hospitals are, by far, one of the best institutions to get real-life healthcare experience, as well as outpatient clinics and senior homes. You can also volunteer with the Red Cross to organize blood drives, or even participate in them. Study-abroad medical trips are currently popular, as you gain hands-on experiences with people from different countries.
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If you want to explore agriculture and/or animal careers, you can volunteer at local farms and community gardens. Most of the time, you can become a farm helper or community garden organizer and learn many critical skills, which you would use regularly along this career path. Another popular choice is to volunteer with animal shelters! These opportunities can help you select the best initial career path for your personal and professional goals.
If you are interested in working with youth groups and childhood education endeavors, you could try volunteering with foster homes, schools, or youth development organizations. Helping with children can prepare you for almost any career. And, you have the potential to gain valuable knowledge by assisting with tricky situations and bringing communities together.
Are you perhaps interested in trades? Then you may want to consider checking out Habitat for Humanity. With this organization, you will receive some first-hand experience building houses and more. You will also learn techniques and tips from well-rounded workers and craftspeople.
A helpful way to choose your initial career steps, if you are uncertain about which field you want to pursue, is to volunteer at several different charities. Electing this option allows you to try out a large swath of work endeavors and backgrounds. You can get involved with special interest groups and gain a broader understanding of many professional fields. Volunteering for a few different charities helps you to see a range of what is out there, as well as where some potentials may ultimately lead.
Using the website, Tallo, can match you with well-suited volunteer opportunities that are available from all across the country, with both virtual and in-person options. You are able to narrow-down your interests efficiently by using Tallo, which can allow for more direct volunteer matches. I love Tallo, as it grants users the ability to find opportunities that can help with their future career plans.
Overall, there are many resources today that can help you find the perfect career match for your professional journey. Volunteering is one of my favorite ways to explore, connect, and consider. Volunteering aids students and professionals in continuing their education through hands-on experiences, all while being helpful to the local and/or virtual community. Stride Career Prep has so much valuable information that has helped me land some of my volunteer opportunities!
Want to read more from our Stride Student Advisors? Then be sure to check out Best Questions To Ask Before Choosing A Career Path.
And, you can read another terrific blog post about discovering the right internship for you, here!
Stride also has an article to help students new to online high school, so make sure you read 5 Tips For New Online High School Students, too!
To learn more about Stride Career Prep's Student Advisory Council, make sure to visit https://www.k12.com/stride-career-prep/about/student-advisory-council.html
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