Why Service to Community/Country Is Important to Me

In high school, we were encouraged to participate in community service programs. Some students considered it demeaning because it involves interacting with people they would not interact with, in their normal lives. Others considered it helpful because they have been raised believing they have to try whatever they can to make the society a better place. I believe community service is important due to the fact that it has professional benefits, college benefits, personal development benefits, and health benefits.Engaging in community service in place such as a shelter for the homeless would give me an opportunity to dismiss the numerous stereotypes concerning homeless. In effect, I will be able to understand the specific challenges faced by people from homeless shelters. A majority of people from these places are prejudiced to the extent that they find it difficult to get back to their jobs and self-supporting lifestyles. In understanding them, it would be easy to give them moral support and other available forms of help.

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I have also found that community service has numerous health benefits. It makes me happy every time I participate in it. I feel that a happy person has a higher chance to live longer than a person who is mostly secluded and unwilling to participate in such activities. Studies have shown that 75% of individuals who have been active participants in community service have felt happier over that time (Hoffman, 2017). Also, 95% of individual participants have exhibited an improvement in their mood.

Community service helps us to improve our communication skills. During this time I get to interact with numerous people from different background and speaking differently. In such a situation, I get to learn how they communicate and try to incorporate their communication skills into my vocabulary set. By interacting with people from different languages I also get to understand aspects of their language thus breaking the communication barrier. For instance, when I go to a place that is inhabited mostly by Mexicans, I would be eager to understand their language. This understanding would bring me closer to them.

Additionally, community service will help me in my quest to gain acceptance to college. Whereas it is not a requirement to participate in community service, I believe that most colleges will certainly be put off by a lack of participation in it. Colleges are more likely to give an opportunity to a student who is an active participant in such initiatives. It is a show of willingness to get involved in activities meant to improve the college. Therefore, I feel that participating in such activities will be good for my education in the long term.

Finally, service to the community is important to me because it is an opportunity for me to sharpen my leadership skills and responsibility to my community. Deciding on a community service project can be a good starting point for me when I need to participate in such programs. As a youth, we need to get recognition for our ideas, skills, and talents. Such activities will give us a chance to become resourceful. As a youth, I can use my talents to create a positive environment.

Conclusion

Overall, community service is important for our personal development, professional development, college benefits, and health benefits. It is also an opportunity to make our country better by participating in cleaning expeditions, visiting patients in hospitals, and donating food to less fortunate people. Although this will not benefit us personally, it will benefit us indirectly because we feel better when we make little changes that contribute to a better society.

References

Hoffman, A. J. (2017). Millennials, Technology and Perceived Relevance of Community Service Organizations: Is Social Media Replacing Community Service Activities?. The Urban Review, 49(1), 140-152.