Forbush Students Benefit from Volunteering in Many Ways

The majority of adults believe that young people these days are selfish and unconcerned about the world around them. They believe that teens only care about their social status and that they could care less about the less fortunate. The truth is, teens are concerned and do care for others. Over half of the three hundred eighty Forbush students surveyed said that they have volunteered before. Most of the people that volunteered for an activity or another did it multiple of time. In fact, approximately sixty-five per cent of those students said that they volunteered in this current school year.

There are many reasons why students should volunteer. One reason is that volunteering helps others. Various people said that they help in soup kitchens once in a while, and others have said that they visit senior citizens at the nursing home. Simple acts like these really do make a difference.

“Patients love it when young people read to them,” said head activity director Crystal Watkins of Yadkin Nursing Care Center, Inc., in Yadkinville. “They enjoy having young people listen to their stories of how they use to live and what life used to be like.”

Another reason that students should volunteer is the personal benefit that they may gain.

After I volunteer, I always feel good,” said sophomore Adam Prim. “I try to do it as much as I can.”

They [volunteers] always say that they feel blessed after they volunteer. And they’re never bored here because no day is ever the same. There’s always something new,” said Watkins.

In contrast to the rewards why a student should volunteer, a more selfish reason is that volunteer jobs look good on college applications.

“Most colleges do look for students who have volunteered,” commented Vice-Principal Mrs. Jones.

College and university recruiters consider good character when they read an application. Having volunteer jobs listed on your application definitely shows you as a caring person and who would be an asset to have in their school.

Our seniors appear to be aware of how their character is perceived when applying to college. About eighty percent of the seniors surveyed said that they have volunteered before, and a large number of them, approximately eighty-six percent, volunteered within this school year.

Subsequently, the survey indicated that as students of Forbush High School get older and nearer to their graduation, the percentage of students who have volunteered got higher. In comparison to the seniors’ eighty-percent volunteers, only forty-six percent of freshmen have ever volunteered.

Despite the personal gains of volunteering, many students admitted that they have never done a volunteering job. The most common explanation is that they just do not have the time. They are always busy “making the grades” in school and being the best in the sport they play. These are all valid reasons why not to volunteer. It is no secret that students these days are under heavy pressure to be the best. However, you have to consider all the personal profit you could make by taking time out of your routine and just helping others. If not for anything else, do it in order to get accepted in a college of your choice. Remember that a little act of compassion can do so much.

There are so many choices of volunteer sites and acts you can do. They range from church get-togethers, the March of Dimes and collecting canned food for the less fortunate.

If you want to volunteer at the Yadkin Nursing Care Center Inc., contact Crystal Watkins at 679-8863. They are looking for students twelve and older who can read to patients, visit them in their rooms and help with the activity department. An application is needed and a tour is given to any potential volunteers. If you are under eighteen, a parent’s or guardian’s signature is required.

If you want get involved with local volunteer organizations but need information to decide which group you want to work with, visit http://www.wxii.com/pubserv.htm (NewsChannel12 provided this site).

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