I spent a lot of my teenage years believing I wasn’t fit to be a leader. Even when I followed my sisters’ footsteps and began volunteering at summer camp at age 15, I still felt incompetent. But the longer I served, the more comfortable I felt as a camp counsellor. The more I volunteered — at camp and in other areas — the more I realized that these opportunities were what made me a better leader. Volunteering is an amazing way to develop new skills, gain experience, and help your community. Programs, events, clubs, non-profits — there are endless opportunities available for students like you.
Not convinced? There are many important reasons to give your time to your community and to your campus. First of all, volunteering will benefit you. Some volunteer opportunities can lead to employment, either directly through the organization, by providing professional references, or by simply putting your volunteer experience on your resume. Make sure to add your volunteerism to your Co-Curricular Record through myCampusLife, which officially recognizes your volunteerism and enhances your resume or portfolio. Many students use volunteerism on their resume to let employers know that they are willing to give their time to a cause they care about. Okay, so what if your resume says that you’re passionate about the environment? Show them by volunteering with Fraser Valley Conservancy, for example. This organization protects and preserves wildlife habitats in local areas, and they are always looking for volunteers to work in public education, fundraising, and habitat restoration.
Volunteering will allow you to learn and grow, both as a person and in your professional field. My summer volunteer work with Charis Camp in Chilliwack made me a more confident and patient leader. In addition, my leadership involvement with UFV’s University Christian Ministries brought me out of my comfort zone as I learned how to navigate leadership in a new position.
Volunteering also benefits the community around you. UFV Lead is a mentorship program that matches first-year students with current students with the purpose of supporting them in their studies and in their personal lives. UFV Lead is a fantastic volunteer opportunity for students to develop leadership skills as a mentor, while at the same time helping a fellow student.
Volunteering can also change the way you view community. By volunteering with a UFV club and becoming more involved on campus in this way, I have found the individualistic commuter culture to fade. Campus culture will only be as strong as the students make it, and volunteering is a perfect way to start making UFV home.
Okay, so maybe I’ve convinced you that volunteering is important, but I know what you’re thinking: “Is it really plausible for busy students?” It’s true that, unlike donating money and resources to important causes, volunteering is accessible to anyone because it only requires you to give up your time. Students, however, don’t exactly have buckets of time to pour into organizations and clubs. It can feel like you’re scraping at the bottom of the bucket when midterms and projects are drowning you. But bear with me — you can volunteer without signing your life away.
Summer camps ask for commitment (as short as one week) in the summer months only. Soup kitchens, such as the Salvation Army, are always looking for evening volunteers without any need to commit to more than one night. Not every opportunity even requires extra time out of your day. UFV’s Centre for Accessibility Services is currently looking for volunteer students to submit their lecture notes to support students in their class who have a disability. For this opportunity and many others, you don’t even need to leave campus.
Many opportunities, especially through UFV, can be directly related to your field of study. Even while volunteering, you are gaining skills and experience in your career path, and getting your foot in the door.
Ready to get involved? MyCampusLife is a great place to start your search. Stop by the Student Union Society (SUS) front desk, find clubs and organizations to join, and check your student email for upcoming UFV events to volunteer at. Off campus, a quick Google search can reveal many exciting opportunities in the Fraser Valley. Archway Community Services, an Abbotsford food bank, offers many programs like Fresh Food Recovery and are looking for volunteers to give three-hour shifts to provide healthy food for those in need. Abbotsford Youth Commission needs volunteers for their drop-in programs like basketball and hockey, and they even have practicum placements.
Volunteering can seem overwhelming, but there are too many rewards to pass it up. Expand your comfort zone, spice up your resume, and give back to those around you. It’s a win-win-win! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sign up to volunteer at the Young Author’s Conference, which takes place on April 30.
Illustration: Kayt Hine/The Cascade
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.
