Students who decide to head back to school to brush up their skills for a new career may decide they want to gain some volunteer experience, as well. While classes can get hectic, sometimes simply adding a slight change of scenery to a person's daily schedule can give them a renewed sense of energy, allowing them to better complete their assignments and tasks throughout the day. One way to accomplish this is through volunteering.
Why Volunteer?
Many students see volunteering as a positive activity because it gives them a chance to brush up their professional skills in a different environment. No matter what type of opportunity they pursue - park cleanups, tutoring students, assisting at nursing homes and more - students can pick up a variety of transferable skills. They can learn how to solve problems, adapt to changing environments, manage a team or simply communicate effectively with others, which are all qualities that are valued highly in the workplace.
Another reason that students volunteer is to broaden their connections in a particular field. Many students know early on that they want to land a position in healthcare but have not yet established themselves in their communities. To help them accomplish this, they can look into volunteer work at hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices or clinics and meet experienced professionals who have worked in the healthcare sector for years. By reaching out to new people, students might learn about possible career opportunities that are perfect for them. Additionally, the staff members they work with at the volunteer organization can become useful references for job applications down the road.
Happy People Volunteer
Volunteer opportunities do not always have to align specifically with a student's career path. They can use this extracurricular activity as an outlet for their other passions, whether they want to help rebuild homes, paint a mural at a public park or volunteer at a local animal shelter. By breaking up their normal routine, students can improve their personal well-being and feel more fulfilled as they pursue their passions.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, individuals who volunteer tend to have lower mortality rates, as well as lower rates of depression later in life than people who do not undertake community service.
Students who are interested in pursuing higher education and volunteer opportunities in Edmonton can enroll in healthcare courses at Reeves College. For more information, fill out the form on the right.