S in VOICES
Service to others
The Flexible Studies Program values service to
others and thus students are given the opportunity to develop positive
character attributes and a sense of social responsibility through
participating in organized service projects and volunteer work within
the school and surrounding community every year. Here are 10 reasons why
we value community service (adapted from UC SanDiego – https://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/involvement/community/reasons.html).
#10: It's good for you.
Volunteering
provides physical and mental rewards. It:
· Reduces
stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than
yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
· Makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like
optimism, joy, and control over one's fate,
· strengthen the immune system.
#9:
It saves resources.
Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can
be spent on local improvements.
#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.
· You
can test out a career.
· You can develop your work ethic.
· You can make connections
to community members for future employment or references.
#7: It brings people together.
As a volunteer you can assist in:
· Uniting people from diverse
backgrounds to work toward a common goal.
· Building camaraderie and teamwork.
#6:
It promotes personal growth and self-esteem.
Understanding community needs helps foster
empathy and self-efficacy.
#5: Volunteering strengthens your community.
As a volunteer you can help:
· Support community members (babysitting, helping
elders, community projects).
· Improve school tone & culture as well as other needed services (tutoring,
tours, grounds clean up).
· Support younger children in the school district (coaching, reading buddies, crafts).
·
Improve Environmental Sustainability (beach and park cleanups, tree planting, gardens).
#4: You learn a lot.
Volunteers learn things like these:
· Self:
Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self-worth.
· Government:
Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about
the functions and operation of our government.
· Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available
to solve community needs.
#3: You get a chance to give back.
People
like to support community resources or
programs (like sports teams you might be on or organizations like the BC
Cancer Agency) that they use themselves or that benefit people they
care about.
#2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.
Community
service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.
#1:
You make a difference.
Every person counts!
