How to Change Your Life in 40 Volunteer Hours or Less
Make them count!
Before you volunteer your 40 required volunteer hours, you might have thought it was just something you needed to get out of the way. But many young Canadians quickly realized that volunteering can be something fun. Maybe it was that moment when the child you were tutoring finally 'got' what you were trying to teach them, or maybe someone sincerely thanked you and told you about the difference you made.
But volunteering can also help you. Here are six ways your 40 volunteer hours may give you work experience, change your perspective, or even make you happier.
- 1. Test a future career and get experience
Always wanted to teach kindergarten? Make sure you spend your volunteer hours working with kids! You might find out that you were right you would love it and get great experience that will benefit you later on. Or you might find out that you don't like story time as much as you thought you would. You just saved yourself years of expensive courses and you can now pursue a career that's right for you!
Depending on what you want to do, you should be able to find some way to test drive it through your 40 hours. Want to be a doctor or a nurse? Volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Want to be a lawyer? Help out at a legal clinic. What if you want to be an engineer? Sign up to help kids make robots.
Many employers love candidates who volunteer because it shows them that you're passionate about your field.
- 2. Get happy
Helping others can boost your happiness! According to one study, happiness levels rose by 12% for those who volunteer every two to four weeks.
Among weekly volunteers, the resulting rise in happiness was 16% or the equivalent of having an income of $75,000 to $100,000 versus $20,000. The morale of this study? Volunteering can make you rich – in happiness.
Continue reading our volunteer tips here.
