Volunteer!

Going off to college or university can be a traumatic experience for most young adults. The lifestyle change of being responsible for one’s self for the first time can be overwhelming. During these years, life lessons come by the hand full.

If you are able to stay at home, the rules generally remain the same. If you happen to be living away from your family and friends, you feel alone. I remember my first few weeks of college; there were new faces every time I turned around! No one is there to make sure you get up in the morning; no one is there to pick you up when you miss the bus at night. Laundry, homework and basic cleaning is your responsibility.

If you ever get lonely or just need a change from school life, take a look in the local phone directory for a list of nonprofit agencies near you. Look under “organizations, social services,” or better yet, contact the area Volunteer Centre.

The Volunteer Centre represents many agencies who pay a yearly fee for the centre to prescreen and match their volunteer requests with registered, prescreened volunteers.

The agency I work for (I’m the youth volunteer/fundraising coordinator) represents more than 40 member agencies. These agencies include the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Pregnancy Crisis Centre and the Children’s Aid Society.

Volunteer positions range from a three- to four-month committment of two or three hours per week to a three-day weekend short-term special event where you can obtain many hours in a short period of time.

Whatever your interests are, you will find a related organization that needs your help! What better way to check out an education major than to experience it in real life for a short period of time at virtually no cost to you!

As a volunteer, you will gain valuable experience as well as a great reference contact for your résumé. Most importantly, you will make a difference in someone’s life that you will remember forever!

Brenda Murray is youth volunteer/fundraising coordinator at The Volunteer Centre of Sarnia-Lambton.

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