by Anna Jemi-Alade
Most professional health schools have a volunteer hour requirement. At first, the amount of hours required can seem daunting, but once you find the right volunteering position, it will be a breeze. But the question remains, how do you figure out where you want to volunteer and what you want to do? 聽To answer this question, I鈥檝e compiled the following list of 10 things to consider before committing to a volunteer opportunity, in hopes that it will help you find your niche!
- Know what your skills are
Figure out what you鈥檙e good at and how your skills can help an organization or group. What can you bring to the table?
- Passion
Time spent volunteering helps someone in need, but it can also be time spent doing something you love. So why not combine the two! Look for opportunities that involve your hobbies. If you鈥檙e into gardening- help out at a local park or community garden, if you鈥檙e into art- volunteer for a youth art program, if you play sports, then help coach a local team, and so on and so forth.
- Proximity
Logistics are important. You鈥檙e probably not going to want to volunteer at an organization that鈥檚 more than 40 minutes drive away when you鈥檙e a super busy student. An 80 minute round trip drive can add up over time and you might not be able to count your drive to the organization as volunteer hours. It can be more efficient to volunteer somewhere close by because less time driving means more time spent volunteering!
- Time Requirements
Before committing yourself to an organization, make sure you review their time requirements. Know what hours they expect of you and how often; is it 2 hours per week? Can you change days or is it always a set schedule? Do you need to find a replacement if you can鈥檛 go? Do they expect you to make a long term commitment? These are all important to consider so that you don鈥檛 get overwhelmed and so that you don鈥檛 disappoint the organization or affect their services if you needed to quit.
- How it can impact your application
People make the mistake of thinking that their volunteer opportunity must be related to their future career, when this isn鈥檛 true. Volunteering in another field, such as a hobby of interest, or something else unrelated to medicine, is a chance to distinguish yourself from the other applicants, since everyone will have some type of healthcare experience. During an interview, it鈥檚 your opportunity to talk about experiences that aren鈥檛 on your resume and that can make you an interesting candidate for professional school.
- Networking
This is something to consider when comparing opportunities, but it shouldn鈥檛 be a sole factor in deciding where you want to volunteer. If you鈥檙e able to meet a professional who will get to know you through a long term volunteer opportunity and could write a recommendation for you, then that鈥檚 really valuable! If not, then no big deal. There are many other avenues to network, and it鈥檚 not essential that volunteering is one of them, but it can be.
- High stress/low stress
If you鈥檝e got that EMT license and you want to use it, then do it. Just keep your own mental health and self-care in mind when it comes to high intensity volunteer work. Have a self-care plan for when you come off shifts, so that you can refresh. As the old adage goes- you can鈥檛 pour from an empty cup, so consider what types of energy you will sacrifice and be prepared for that.
- Can you do a trial run before committing?
You might never have interacted with children with disabilities before. Ask if you can observe a session before you commit to training or to volunteering. Do all you can to make sure the opportunity is a good fit for you because they鈥檒l likely want someone who can stick around!
- Making a difference
If you鈥檙e concerned about the impact of your volunteer work, then make sure you find an opportunity where you feel your time supports a worthy cause or group.
- Be open to growing
Giving up your time to help others, will help them, but it can also impact you. Your eyes may be opened to new perspectives on a way of life or other cultures. You聽 might even learn how to shingle a roof or paint a house. Be open to the opportunity you choose and let it change you for the better.
Now it鈥檚 time to go and volunteer. Happy Volunteering!