Aiming for a meaningful experience

1) Regardless of your age, sex, ethnicity, or any other demographic factor, you can help others provided you have the desire to do so.

2) With the right perspective, it is impossible to give without also receiving.

There are many compelling reasons why someone should volunteer. The most important ones must come from within. Do not be guilt-tripped into volunteering; chances are you won't enjoy it, and you might end up resenting the person who got you involved or worse still, the organization you are volunteering for. You may think of volunteering as a duty, either religious or ethical, and that's fine. But remember, there are many rewards to be obtained from helping others. Here is just a small list of the benefits of volunteering: you can learn a new skill, meet new people, share a gift or talent, collaborate with individuals who share a similar interest or conviction, help make your community a better place to live, add to your resume, spend time with friends and family in a noncompetitive environment, break the monotony of the daily grind, and see what you're capable of.

Some people are so enthusiastic about helping others that they take the first opportunity that they hear about without stopping to consider what they would actually enjoy doing. Others are too busy to even explore the possibilities, though something might be out there that could be very well worth making time for.

The following is a short exercise to help you decide what type of volunteer opportunity is right for you. I know it sounds like work, but it's not very time-consuming, it's fun, and it will ensure that you do not leap into volunteerism blindly, but go forth knowing what you want from a volunteer experience. All you need is a piece of paper, a pen or pencil, and 5-10 minutes of uninterrupted time. The key is to let your mind go free; don't feel like you have to stay within the realm of conventional volunteer tasks. Draw a line down the center of the paper, both vertically and horizontally, so that it is divided into 4 equal sections. In the first box, list the talents, skills, interests, and hobbies that you do well AND enjoy doing. (If you are excellent at filing, but don't like doing it, don't write it down!) In the next box list things you wish you knew more about, or skills you would like to develop. In the following box, write down your "no-no's," the things you just don't want to do (for instance, the aforementioned filing). In the last box write down why you want to volunteer, keeping in mind how you filled in the other boxes.

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