In high school I always seemed to be doing volunteer work, but not for the right reasons. I enjoyed helping others and giving back to my community; however, I only volunteered when it was required of me or to make my college applications look better.
Coming into college, I assumed that my volunteer work would come to a close, but NC State developed in me an authentic passion for volunteering. Throughout my years at NC State I have been constantly amazed by the spirit of volunteerism students have and their dedication to serving others, and I now realize how beneficial volunteering can be.
The Higher Education Research Institute reported that, “two-thirds of entering college students believed it was very important to help others, which is the highest percentage in the last 25 years.” More young people are becoming more involved in volunteering, and college students make up a large portion of the number of people who volunteer. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the growth rate of college student volunteers is more than double the growth rate of all adult volunteers.
NC State knows that their students are dedicated volunteers and tries to give its students as many volunteer opportunities as possible, whether it’s by encouraging students to join clubs or taking alternative spring breaks.
“NC State students are volunteers, activists and leaders,” reads the website of the Office of Outreach and Engagement.
Volunteering not only helps the community, but improves the life of the volunteer. A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that volunteering can improve the volunteer’s mental health by reducing stress and physical health by encouraging a more active lifestyle. According to CNCS, “those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.”
Many NC State students have experienced the benefits of volunteering and actively seek out clubs and organizations to unleash their desire to help others. There is a large quantity of clubs and organizations on campus whose entire focus is volunteerism and service.
For example, Omega Phi Alpha is a national service sorority composed of over 50 women who have dedicated a large portion of their college careers to helping others, including participating in Miracle League and hosting a 5k for mental health awareness.
“I’ve just always enjoyed giving back to the community,” said Dominique Romero, president of Omega Phi Alpha. “I think [Omega Phi Alpha] was a really good fit for me because I actively enjoy doing things as service to others. I think that’s the collective attitude of all of Omega Phi Alpha members.”
Some students come to NC State and don’t find a club which aligns with their passions, but their solution isn’t to give up on volunteering. Each year, more and more organizations dedicated to volunteerism are created by students.
Lucy Driver, a third year studying animal science, wanted to continue her passion for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. However, since NC State did not have an organization which supported this cause, she decided to make her own club and is now entering her second year as president of the Operation Christmas Child Club.
Over the last three years, I have volunteered for over 300 hours with various organizations which I would never have discovered if I did not take advantage of opportunities here at NC State. I have seen lives changed, including my own, because of volunteering.
The majority of students seem to have a true sense of volunteerism and a passion to serve others, and NC State gives its students plenty of opportunities to unleash this passion. Regardless of where or how students volunteer, they’re making an impact on the community by reaching out to find opportunities to help others that in turn help themselves — and it’s never too late to jump on board.
