The importance of volunteering in college

For most people, volunteering is understandably a drag. You show up to do something with almost no incentive and do not get paid or really given any compensation other than feeling good. Of course, you get to put it on your resume and that’s awesome, but what else is there?

Something I’ve run into a lot with college students (especially ones with particularly prestigious majors or quick success within their majors) is that no one really wants to do anything extra that does not offer pay. I’m not even going to get into unpaid internships which, by the way, are basically the basis of your entire career because they allow you to learn about your field hands-on and become prepared to get hired out of college. If you are not up to doing unpaid internships, you’re just living in an unrealistic world. If you happen to continuously get hired for paid internships, good for you.

What I’m talking about here is literal volunteer work. I joined and became Co-Service Chair of Lambda Sigma honor society this year, so service has kind of been my thing lately. I could not be happier doing the weekly work I do. What is this weekly volunteer position, you may ask? I take unpaid time out of my day every Tuesday from 1-3pm to go to the Animal Rescue League on Hamilton Avenue to work with the cats.

At first, it did seem like a bit of a drag. It was a good thought but I admittedly had trouble getting off my ass to take the bus over there, but once I got past that I began to feel that Tuesday is my favorite day of the week.

Cats are not for everyone and I am much more of a dog person, but I absolutely love the work I do. My job is to socialize the cats so they can be adopted. The more time a cat spends with humans, the more comfortable they become and the easier they are to get along with. Once a cat is sufficiently comfortable around people (because being surrendered/abused by your owner or not ever having one and ending up in a cage at a foreign place can be very stressful) they are then eligible to get adopted.

Knowing that every moment I spend brushing, petting, cuddling and playing with a cat is getting them that much closer to being adopted is one of the greatest feelings of my life.

This Tuesday, I helped my first kitty get adopted. A family of five came in while I was on shift and I helped them meet the cat. He was a young, playful, yet nervous cat. At first, he hid in the corner because there were so many people around. I asked the potential adopters to please sit down and be calm so I could make the cat feel more comfortable. He climbed into my lap and I pet him for a while, calming him down. Eventually, I felt he was ready and put him into the mother’s lap. He immediately became less stressed after I had made him see that it was safe. Later that day, that family took him home.

I cannot stress how important it is to do work like this while we’re in college. With everything pointing towards a profitable career and everything being about money, it sure keeps me down to earth and humble knowing that I am able to help sweet little animals get a better life without costing anyone a dime. Besides, I get two hours of cat therapy every single week.

I encourage everyone to find something they care about whether it be animals, children, the homeless, the ill, etc. and go do something about it.

The world needs our help, and we need a little honest work to keep us modest.