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Volunteering is a wonderful way to help not only yourself but the community. However, the value of it could be compromised if it isn't for something that the volunteer is passionate about. Volunteering is, rather, going through the motions, knowing that it might help people but not necessarily caring. It's putting in the hours without feeling that it's really going to make a difference. Volunteering can be great, but it needs to be well-researched and well-chosen for the individual.

My school's curriculum requires that students complete a certain number of hours volunteering with a respectable organization. For the past three years, I've done my service hours through a nursing home. While I understood the value of my volunteering there and did like the people I was assisting, it's simply not a cause that I feel particularly passionate about. I would keep one eye on the person I was helping and the other on the clock. That's not to say that I didn't think the organization was valuable to society; it certainly was, and I respect very much the people associated with it, but it just wasn't the right volunteer path for me.

My passion, since I was young, has been the environment. To me, it's one of the most important causes to be supportive of because it's universal; if the earth is misused, it will impact everyone. I started volunteering with some grassroots organizations in my area and found that I loved it. The hours I put in to helping with these organizations seemed to fly by, because I was not only feeling like I was really making a difference but had fun at the same time. The volunteer hour requirement no longer seemed like a chore, becuase it coincided with something I cared about.

Volunteering really can make a difference...as long as it's something that the volunteer truly feels passionate about. I believe that all volunteer service is valuable, but we each need to find the particular type that works best for us. With a combination of action and passion, volunteering can really be a beautiful thing.

Learn more about this author, Caroline Fraissinet.
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