Volunteering From the Heart: Volunteering is more than adding an extracurricular to college applications

As I brushed the pink rubber eraser shavings off the tally sheet, I gave the waiting customer an apologetic smile. 

I was volunteering at Johnson County Library’s Pop-up Book Sale, and I was overwhelmed — I had to assist customers while pricing an assortment of books, CDs, puzzles, records and writing down how many items had been sold.

In the beginning, the only reason I went to the sale was because I thought volunteering for 100 hours and getting the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award was the only way for me to go to an out-of-state college.

But volunteering isn’t just a way to get into college — it’s sharing an experience and connecting with others while helping them.

Working alongside three friendly adult volunteers while assisting book-loving customers made me feel welcome and useful.

One customer showed me a picture of a completed puzzle she had purchased from the book sale a week before, and each customer I helped had a positive comment about how neat the book sale was.

If my fellow volunteers noticed I was struggling, they would give me a pat on the shoulder or ask if I needed help. 

Now, whenever I hear my peers complain about the “burden” of getting volunteer hours, I cringe — this isn’t how students should think of it. Actually going out and volunteering completely changed my perspective.

Interacting with friendly people and stepping out of my comfort zone made me realize I wanted to do more to help others.

My first-ever volunteering experience was last year when I volunteered at Belinder Elementary School as a math helper and to spend time with kids at recess. 

Sitting in the tiled hallway decorated with colorful crafts and going through multiplication flashcards with three 5th graders while we laughed together at their friendly competitiveness didn’t feel like volunteering. I was hanging out with kids who genuinely looked up to me.

After being at my former elementary school, I decided I wanted to help kids more often. Now, I volunteer at Belinder once every two weeks. 

I used to think that volunteering was the same as studying for the ACT — another way to get into college. But it’s not. Volunteering is gratifying. I feel rewarded when customers smile and thank me, and I feel comfort when the kids I help make sure to give me a hug before I leave. 

Having a positive influence on strangers and being around passionate people makes me feel fulfilled and useful. 

Other people should volunteer, but not for the purpose of getting into college — it must be their own decision to help others.

Working toward a common purpose, whether it’s in a warmly-lit library for a book sale or an elementary school hallway, is so much more than checking off the “extracurricular box” for college admissions — it’s feeling satisfied by making an impact.