Volunteerism by Laura

Volunteerism by Laura - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

I first began to learn about volunteer work and community service when I started high school. Near the end of my freshmen year, I learned about the Ambassador’s club and joined. Then, in my junior year, I was invited to join the National Honor Society (NHS), and that was a great achievement for me. I began doing volunteer community service at that time. I had always been interested in joining the National Honor Society; I felt that it was an influential and effective club. I wanted to be involved and do something that would benefit me and the community.
I have volunteered at many different places over the years and was there to help those in need. One of the most significant volunteer activities that I accomplished was serving at the Senior Citizen Center. I got to help prepare and serve lunch to the senior citizens and spend time with them. I enjoyed meeting and spending time with the elderly people. They were fun to be around and talk to. I remember particularly the workers at the senior citizen center explaining to me how much the elderly enjoy seeing young people. I felt that the senior citizens truly were excited to see me as I spent time with them. Many of them made comments about how young I was and told me stories about when they were young. I learned how to have true compassion for the elderly, what it feels like to love a complete stranger, and the happiness that one feels when you serve others. I know that volunteer work benefits us and our communities. My experience was a memorable one, and I will continue to volunteer and be a good example to others in the future. Also, I will encourage others to volunteer and serve in any way they can and to be a good example as well. It has been a blessing in my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, and give back to the community the things that I’ve learned.
Volunteer community service has had a positive impact on my life, on the lives of other students, and on the lives of the people in the community because of the example that I have set. Volunteering has many benefits for the people in the community, because they received the help that they were in need of and I got to have the satisfaction of helping. I believe volunteering has made me and those I’ve served better and happier people too. As an American Red Cross volunteer, I educated people on the importance of donating blood, and being prepared in a disaster. Then, as a Toy for Tots volunteer, I helped sort toys out for the less fortunate families, thereby easing their financial burdens.
I enjoy serving the community and helping out whenever and wherever I can.