Summertime... Volunteering is Easy....

One great summer ritual is to slow down and smell the roses.  This summer, consider volunteering some of your time.

I know, you think I'm going to tell you to volunteer because it "looks great on your college applications."  

Let me be clear: Volunteering just because it might look good on your college application is precisely the wrong reason to volunteer.

I volunteer a lot of my time.  There are all kinds of services I provide with the expectation that I am gifting my time.  If it only make sense to volunteer because it gets you into college, my volunteering would not make any sense.  After all, I already have a college and a law degree; who am I trying to impress?

No one.  I am trying to impress no one.  

Volunteering just because it might look good on your college application is precisely the wrong reason to volunteer.

One easy way to start volunteering is to help out younger students.  I love how younger students LOVE IT when older students spend time with them.  They think the "big kids" are awesome.  As long as you are kind, do the work that your volunteer coordinators request, and listen to the "little kids," you will do fine.

Barrington High School has posted these volunteer opportunities for high school students.  If you haven't volunteered much in the past, or haven't tried working with younger kids, these are great opportunities to try out.

• Grove Avenue School needs volunteers to help with childcare during a parent program next Tuesday: May 26th from 6:30-8:30 pm. Activities and materials will be provided. You may volunteer one or more nights. See Mrs. Bauer in the GRC.

• BMS Prairie Summer School Ambassadors; volunteers will have a presence in the hallways, assisting students in finding rooms before classes/after breaks, monitoring halls & common areas during classes; choose the week that fits your schedule between June 8th & July 1st, from 7:30-12:30 each day; you can earn up to 60 volunteer hours! APPLY NOW! See Mrs. Bauer in the GRC.
  

I hope you call Mrs. Bauer to give this a try.  Spend a little time learning to keep order so that others can enjoy themselves.  See how much you like teaching or leading.  Take a trip down memory lane, remembering what it was like to be a munchkin

if you [volunteer] only because of what is in it for you, then it's not really volunteering.  And believe it or not, college recruiters can tell the difference.

I volunteer because I like to do it.  I like the people I meet, the new things I learn, and seeing what a difference I can make by being kind.

I am a big believer in kindness.  In listening carefully to another person.  In doing what I can to make someone's day go a little better.  In just being there while a friend suffers, so that she does not suffer alone.

When I coordinate my efforts with other volunteers,  I am often astounded by how much can be accomplished by very few.  

It's enough to restore my faith in humanity. 

Oh, and it will look good on your college application.  But only if you do it to be there for others.  Because if you do it only because of what is in it for you, then it's not really volunteering.  And believe it or not, college recruiters can tell the difference.