“I currently have 170 service hours. I’m in a service club called Key Club, and we are responsible for promoting the idea of service and serving the community. I find enjoyment in volunteering because I know I’m doing this for good causes. Rather than just talking about change, you’re actually showing impact through your movements, and that’s what makes it memorable.

Some of the service work I do includes tutoring for Core Club, where I helped elementary students with their work, and practicing English with kids from Taiwan. I do a lot more in Key Club because we always organize or help at local events. I went to many of the club’s volunteering opportunities, such as a fall learning festival, and other than that, I usually go to food banks, where we package food for people who need it. 

I have volunteered at the food bank more than ten times, and the first time I went there, I packaged so much bread within three hours. I was shocked when I learned we packaged over 1000 pounds of bread! It felt satisfying to know that I’m making an impact in the community by making sure families can be fed. 

The skills I learned were patience and time management, but most importantly to cherish everything you have because there are people out there who don’t have the same things as you. At the food bank, there are a lot of volunteers coming in every single weekend with the purpose of helping the people in need of meals, and they inspire me to work harder.

If you want to get into volunteering, you have to stop thinking that it’s a tedious or meaningless job. It’s an opportunity to practice your skills and learn how to communicate with others. You can also make a lot of precious memories, friends, and have fun. Instead of viewing it solely as an opportunity to earn service hours, you have the chance to explore a world that selflessly gives back to the community without expecting anything in return. This is the kind of world we need in the future. After all, we’ll be a part of it.”