When volunteering, consider how you can prepare for your future career. If you're having trouble figuring out how to do this, here are a few ideas.
We all know that community service is a great way to fill your community’s needs and make yourself feel good. But many teens often forget that it's also a great way to build your resume and gain valuable work experience. When thinking about which service opportunities to pursue, consider how you can use your time volunteering to help prepare you for your future career. A great way to do this is to search for volunteer options correlating to your desired career. If you're having trouble figuring out how to do this, here are a few ideas:
If you're interested in health:
For anyone who dreams of being a doctor, nurse, or any other healthcare professional, there are tons of great ways to start acquiring skills in high school. Volunteering as an emergency responder at your local fire station, a runner for your local medical reserve corps, or an office assistant at a free clinic are great ways to start getting involved in healthcare.
If you're interested in government:
For the next politician or activist, volunteering on a campaign could be a great way to dip your toe into the political waters. Whether you're making phone calls or helping to organize local events, it is relatively easy to get involved in any campaign by simply visiting their website.
If you're interested in education:
Tutoring is the perfect volunteer activity for anyone who can envision themselves in front of a classroom. Whether you're helping preschoolers learn to read or supporting special-needs students, there are a variety of ways to start honing your teaching skills as a high schooler.
If you're interested in technology:
If you love everything tech, a great way to give back to your community is volunteering to help senior citizens navigate the internet. While this option may look different in the era of COVID-19, it is more important now than ever to help seniors stay connected to their loved ones. If this isn't for you, there are also many virtual volunteering opportunities that use IT skills such as database entry or website updates.
