Vol. 2, No. 2 • Spring 1998

Volunteering: An Investment
in the Future
by Joan S. McAllister

Warm weather brings out the blossoms, the grass, allergies, and severe bouts with spring fever. It is time to think about summer plans. For many teens, summer offers a time to earn extra money for clothes, trips to the movies, gas for the car, and other necessities of adolescent life.

But jobs are scarce, and the opportunities to get those jobs exists for only a brief time. Some people feel so frustrated about not finding a job they settle for a summer of hanging out. This can be fun for a little while, but not for long. It can quickly become a source of irritation for the adults in your life, and the hassles can lead to problems. There are other options.

Many organizations that serve the community are struggling with a lack of funding and too much work to do. They are looking for volunteers just like YOU. You may wonder why you would want to work for nothing. You may think you can't do anything that would be helpful to others. You may worry your friends will think you are stupid for doing something you don't have to do. You may not see the connection between working as a volunteer and your eventual career. Or maybe you just don't know where to start.

1. A good place to start is with yourself. Think about jobs you might want to explore. Perhaps you want to teach, or be a medical professional, or work construction. Maybe you want to be a mechanic, park ranger, or veterinarian. Once you decide on two or three employment possibilities, move to the next step.
   
   
2. Think about where in your community people are working and doing the things you are interested in--schools, reading programs, the hospital, home-building programs, garages, community or state parks, veterinary hospitals. Are there any volunteer organizations that include this work in their service?
   For example, Habitat for Humanity uses volunteer labor to build homes for the needy. Some churches and schools offer summer reading programs for younger children. Some groups fix up used cars to help transport people to doctors, or for refugees new to the United States.
   
   
3. Write up a brief resume about yourself and your interests. Include your name, telephone number, any history you have of volunteering or working, and your interest in learning.
   
   
4. Call to make an appointment to talk with the manager or director.
   
   
5. Go to the interview dressed as you would if you worked there. When you meet the manager, explain your interest in working as a volunteer.

If you get a volunteer position , be sure you handle the responsibility as well as you would if you were a paid employee. Work hard. Be on time. Call if you are sick. Ask in advance if you need to be out of work. Don't quit.

What will you get in return? This article DID say something about an investment in the future! For starters you:

• Will gain work experience that counts on a resume.
• Will establish your work habits and can call on your mentor to be a reference.
• Might gain leadership skills.
• Might become physically stronger.
• Might learn about a whole new possibility you had not even thought about.
• Will thoroughly explore a work area that was of interest to you and will either decide that you want to explore it further or else will move on to something else.
• Probably won't be bored.
• Will establish relationships with adults who can be there for you in the future.
• Will help somebody else out the needs it more than you do.
• Will like yourself for what you did.

Joan S. McAllister is an Independent Living Consultant for the North Carolina Division of Social Services.

Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families