Volunteer Opportunities for High School Students
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, learn new skills, and even add to your resume. However, finding these opportunities can be difficult when you don’t know how to look or are not sure where you want to volunteer. Luckily, finding the perfect volunteering position is not as hard as it seems. Here is a guide to help you find those volunteering opportunities as a high school student!
1. Reach out to local organizations
Reaching out to local organizations is the best way to find volunteer opportunities. This allows you to reach out to specific organizations whose causes matter to you and display your interest in providing help. Reaching out can be a quick email demonstrating your interest or asking in person for volunteer opportunities. I recommend taking a look at your community and thinking about the causes that are important to you.
For example, if you’re interested in animals, I suggest reaching out to your local animal shelter. Or, if you are interested in environmental health, you should contact local environmental organizations.
Organizations are always looking for help so it is likely that reaching out to one that interests you will not only provide you will volunteering hours but enable you to help in ways you care about.
2. Use your school for resources
Typically, schools contain resources of places that are looking for volunteers whether that is a bulletin board or an online catalog. It’s common that the first place organizations go when in search of volunteers are high schools, so it’s highly likely that your school will help find the right opportunities designed for you using their resources.
I recommend reaching out to a guidance counselor who would be able to point you in the right direction and is likely to have more information about volunteering as it can vary for different schools. Also, ask around! It’s also possible that your peers and classmates are currently volunteering, and they can give you more information about how they found that opportunity.
3. Create your own initiative
Sometimes there can be causes that may mean a lot to you, but you haven’t found an organization or opportunity near you that is providing that assistance. Creating your own initiative is the perfect solution and can be incredibly impactful in your community. While it may seem daunting, creating your own initiative can simply be collecting recyclable goods or picking up trash.
When starting an initiative it is important to identify your goal and figure out how you are going to achieve this goal. For example, if you want to start a food drive a goal could be donating food to families in need and a way to do this could be collecting food from people in the community.
Creating your own initiative shows great dedication to a cause and allows you to give back to your community in a way that means a lot to you! You’ll also be able to exercise your leadership skills and team-building abilities.
4. Look into fundraising
Oftentimes, there are causes you care about but feel that you can’t make an impact on such as helping causes in other countries or spanning beyond your community. Fundraising is a great way to support causes that you may not be able to help directly. To fundraise, reach out to as many people as possible and deliver impactful information about the cause you are supporting.
Be sure to indicate how their donation is going to make an impact. In today’s age, the best way to connect with people is through social media. Use this tool to your advantage to connect with family and friends to raise money and also spread awareness about issues that may not be as known.
5. Help those around you
Volunteering doesn’t always have to be for an organization or a specific cause. It can simply be contributing your time to help others in your community. Look around you - at neighbors, peers, and family members. Maybe it is your elderly neighbor who needs help carrying groceries or your friend at school struggling with math. By being a source of support or aid for others around you, you are improving your community as well as your relationships.
Volunteering to me is most meaningful when I can connect with others and make an impact. Helping others in my community is the most rewarding form of volunteer work because I am able to see the impact and relationships I have made.
Volunteer work is crucial for communities - whether that is your small town or all of the planet. By providing your time and knowledge you are able to help others less fortunate and give back to your community. Volunteering is also beneficial for the individual to gain experience and learn new skills that you otherwise would not have been exposed to.
By starting your volunteering journey in high school you are setting yourself up for a fulfilling future of selfless work in which you are guaranteed to make a significant impact in your community.
Final Thoughts on Volunteer Opportunities for Students
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! Volunteering is something that can appeal to students for a variety of reasons. Many students like getting hands-on experience with community service projects, giving back to the community, or simply getting out of class for a little while.
But no matter what the primary motivator is, volunteering is a great way to get involved in something that's meaningful and different. And if you're a teenager looking for something new, volunteering may just be the answer you've been looking for.
Ready to get started on your volunteer journey? Consider becoming a volunteer academic coach on UPchieve!