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Nonprofit Organizations
An entity with the following characteristics that distinguish it from a
business enterprise: (a) contributions of significant amounts of
resources from providers who do not expect proportionate return, (b)
operating purposes other than to provide goods or services at a profit,
and (c) absence of ownership interests like those of business
enterprises.
Only hours completed at nonprofit
organizations will be accepted by the Polk County School Board.
from
collegeboard.com
Helping Others Can Help
You
Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on your community. But
did you know that it can have many benefits for you, too?
You may
have heard that volunteering helps you get into college, but keep in
mind they're not just looking for a list of organizations and dates.
Colleges want to see a complete picture of you, and real examples of
your commitment, dedication, and interests.
Reasons to Volunteer
Gain Valuable Life Experiences and Skills
Whether
you build houses for the homeless or mail flyers for a local politician,
you'll experience the real world through hands-on work. You can use this
experience to explore your major or career interests.
Meet Interesting People
Volunteering brings together a variety of people. Both the recipients of
your volunteer efforts and your co-workers can be rich sources of
insight. For example, maybe you'll learn about the legal profession from
a former lawyer you visit at a convalescent center.
Get Academic Credit
Some
schools offer academic credit for volunteer work through
"service-learning." This is a teaching method that integrates hands-on
learning (through service to the community) into the school curriculum.
It's available in high schools and colleges, as well as in earlier
grades. To find out if your school offers service-learning, visit the
Learn and Serve Web site.
Send a Signal to
Colleges
Colleges
pay attention to your life inside and outside the classroom. Your
extracurricular activities reveal a great deal about you, such as what
your interests are, whether you can manage your priorities and maintain
a long-term commitment, what diversity you'd bring to the student body,
and how you've made a meaningful contribution to something.
Keep in
mind, colleges are not interested in seeing you do it all. It's more
meaningful to colleges to see your dedication to one or two causes or
activities than to see that you've spread yourself thin.
More...
Volunteering has many other intangible benefits. It can help you give
back to society, break down barriers of misunderstanding or fear,
explore personal issues, and even have fun.
"Community
service, which was required at my high school, was a big wow with
interviewers. It's even better if you can match your service with your
career interest. For example, volunteer at a hospital if you're planning
on med school." Faith, college student
How to Get Involved
There are
many people, places, and organizations that need volunteers. Here are
some tips for getting started:
·
Look around
your community and in the phone book to see what programs are there.
Call and ask if they need help.
·
Visit your
city or town Web site. It may list volunteer opportunities in your
community.
·
Contact your
local United Way, cultural arts association, student organization, or
another association that can point you in the right direction.
·
Ask your
library, church or synagogue, and/or community colleges if they sponsor
any volunteer groups.
Questions to Ask
Yourself Before You Volunteer
It's
important that you enjoy the type of service you choose and that you
have the time to stick with it. Ask yourself these questions before you
commit to an organization.
·
How much time
do I have to commit?
·
Do I want an
ongoing, regularly-scheduled assignment, a short-term assignment, or a
one-time assignment?
·
Am I willing
to participate in a training course or do I want to start my volunteer
work immediately?
·
Which talents
or skills do I offer?
·
What would I
most like to learn by volunteering?
·
What don't I
want to do as a volunteer?
·
Do I want to
work alone or with a group?
·
With what
kind of people do I want to work -- both in terms of who is receiving my
services and who my co-workers might be? |
