PJ Mercanti
PJ Mercanti
Volunteer Experiences
I have recently taken a keen interest in volunteering. In the past year I have been quite involved in a few small projects that have helped many people. One such project is "Project Concern." This project is a dinner for underprivileged children who are not able to celebrate a large Christmas. This dinner has been going on for the past few years and I am proud to say that I have been a part of making those childrens' Christmases more enjoyable. I helped out by offering my assistance in whatever way I could. I have also volunteered as a coach for an Atom hockey team. I taught the children hockey fundamentals, as well as discipline and team work. I have also helped coach a soccer team, where I did the same things. I also volunteered at a grade school where I helped the teacher with her Physical Education classes. I used my skills to increase those of other children. I have also canvassed for a local school trustee. The man was old, therefore I though it would be a kind gesture for me to offer my time and energy. I am also an active member of my school council and have helped many charitable causes in the past. These causes range from raising money for certain groups to obtaining canned goods for local food banks.
Benefits of Volunteering
One major benefit of volunteering is that of personal satisfaction. It makes me feel like a better individual because I reached out to another person and I helped make somebody else's life easier and more enjoyable. There is no financial reward, but there is a spiritual and personal reward that is far greater than any financial reward. Another benefit of my volunteer experiences is that I gained social skills since I was constantly interacting with people. I learned to be more confident in a social atmosphere and I became more respected because of that confidence. I would like to pursue a career in business and gaining these type of social skills are essential in being a success. A great way to learn is through volunteering. I am putting smiles on people's faces now by volunteering and I wish to do so in eight years when I am in business. The only difference is that when I put smiles on people's faces in the future, I will also be putting money in my pocket! Therefore, this goes to show that little things now can turn into great things in the future.
Another benefit of volunteering is that it opens many doors. I have been given great opportunities through volunteer experiences, opportunities that could only have come through volunteering. I have also met many people through these experiences and I have started many great relationships. Volunteering is something small to me, but it makes a whole world of difference to other people who need my help.
Why will I continue to volunteer?
I will continue to volunteer for the reasons I stated above, but another reason, other than making myself happy and making other people happy, is that it will help me expand my education. During the past few years, universities have asked for people's volunteer experiences. People have been accepted into certain universities and not others because of the amount of volunteer work completed. Universities expect that you have volunteered if you wish to be accepted into their school. They no longer ask for what extra-curricular activities you have participated in, but rather what causes you have volunteered for. Other than this, I will continue to volunteer because it will make me grow as a person, as a child of God. We are called to give our time and to serve others. Volunteer work is what is needed to make this religious lesson become a reality.
The following quote from a book I read called, "Don't sweat the small stuff", shows that volunteering your time is one of the greatest acts of kindness. The quote reads, "Often the most appreciated acts of kindness aren't the million dollar grants from giant corporations, but the one hour of volunteer work in a home for the elderly or the five dollar gift from someone who can't afford anything at all. If we take great care in doing something - anything - for another person, we will feel the joy of giving and will help to make our world just a little bit brighter."
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