5 Reasons Why You Should Do Volunteer Work During University

On May the 7th, 2008, Macquarie University announced a new curriculum to force students who enroll past 2010, to study humanities and sciences, along with the requirement that students are to perform volunteering work whilst studying. I believe this is a great idea for students as it broadens their minds not only to learn about areas outside their thinking box, but to also recognise the needs of others who may or may not be as fortunate in life.

However, Angus Macfarland, the president of the National Union of Students has stated in an article on ABC News that students will be financially more vulnerable, as this would be taking time away from part-to-full time employment that students would normally engage in during their free time. “Students are are among the most vulnerable financially and so concerns that we have is that not all students will be able to benefit from this and some students might be worse off if they’re forced to do this volunteer work,” he said. In my opinion, while students may suffer in the short term, there are many longer term rewards that can accrue, both intrinsically and extrinsically in motivation.

GradTips presents 7 benefits that will come out of consistent volunteer work whilst at University. This is by no means a list of counter-arguments to Mr. Macfarland, but a list of points that should be considered when it comes to assessing what you can do with your free time in the semester:

1. Volunteering will get you to help others that have more pressing needs than yours

There are many people in the world. In fact, close to 8 billion - and chances are there is at least one other person out there who is less fortunate than you. Whether it be environmental, aid work, or simply volunteering for student union initiatives such as Orientation Week; acknowledging that there is a need outside of your own personal preferences is the first step… the next step is to act upon it, and that’s where volunteer work comes in.

2. Volunteering will get you to learn how to handle and interact with different and/or difficult types of people

At university, you’ll probably stick to people you can relate to. Unfortunately, the only way to grow is to step outside of these circles and interact with people you would never approach day-to-day. It’s best to learn this early in life, as it will set the foundation of how you’ll live and breathe with other human beings later in your life whether it be volunteer work or employment.

3. Volunteering will allow you to experience life in the shoes of others

Volunteering provides a great amount of perspective. You will be able to see the world in the eyes of those in more need than you, and to act and provide help in that area is highly rewarding.

4. Volunteering means absolutely the world to those you are helping

You’d think volunteering is a thankless task, with no monetary or financial gain. When you see the expression of the faces of the communities that you’ll be affecting, it is all worth the effort. No amount of financial gain will provide you (or those affected) with such happiness and glee!

5. Volunteering provides recognition and self fulfillment.

Awareness, honesty, freedom and trust - these are the four tendancies that you will develop according to Maslows heirarchy of needs.. It allows you to be an objective viewer of life, respecting and esteeming themselves, and others you interact with. Self-actualizing people have deep feelings of identification, sympathy and affection for other people, and a deep feeling of empathy and compassion for human beings in general.

7. And finally, it is (unfortunately) a great career move

Volunteering gives you a profound inter-personal relationship with other people, and the communication and conflict solving skills learnt within these volunteering times are highly valued within the labour force. It shows that you have enhanced existing skills and learned new ones. It shows you have not only a personality, but it shows empathy, compassion, and enhances your personal branding when it comes to the graduate job hunt.

But above all, it makes you a better person, by fulfilling the needs of others. How can you top that?

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