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When I was in college, I volunteered to work on some political campaigns. One of these campaigns was for a representative to college from my home state of New Jersey. After she was elected to Congress, I applied for a congressional internship with her, citing my volunteer experience on her campaign. She wrote me back saying that I was well qualified. I contacted her staff assistant and arranged to volunteer in her office two days a week.

It was an interesting experience, I acquired knowledge of the way government, and the legislative branch works. This hand on experience benefited and enhanced my classroom learning experiences. I saw first hand how committees worked, how a congressional office worked, how employees interacted with one another, how a representative answers letters by constituents on important issues, as well as writing an article for publication in the Congressional Record, under my representatives name. I still use this article as a publishing credit today. Each intern also completed a special research project and mine was on the Export-Import Bank. I was an international studies major, so the congressional assignments I was given centered mainly on international affairs.

I put this volunteer experience on my resume and I think it helped me to obtain a position in the federal government after graduation from college. I learned how to work under the direction of others, how to work with others, and how to add value to an organization. This experience helped with paid employment positions.

Today, I am a volunteer at a non-profit organization, established to deal with issues of youth violence at the local government level. I have written some articles for their annual report and am hoping to receive future assignments from them so that I can experience as a Web Content Editor and Web Developer. I have also developed a survey for them for an upcoming conference on youth depression and suicide.

I have continued to volunteer for various church activities, including vacation bible school, praying at the fair and other prayer ministries, and some clerical office work.

In addition, to gaining experience and learning how to work with others, volunteers also can make a difference in an organization. Non-profits, scrapped for cash, rely on volunteers to help them undertake a wide range of tasks, which they either cannot do themselves, nor do they have the funds to hire others to do it for them. Volunteers fill in the gaps.

Volunteering benefits both the volunteers and the organizations who appreciate what they have to offer. Volunteering saves organizations time and money and offers an alternative to the traditional work force. Volunteering is an avenue that can open many doors for both the volunteer and the non-profit service sector organization.

Learn more about this author, Sheila Koester.
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