Volunteering throughout school can be a highly rewarding experience that teaches you valuable life lessons beyond the classroom. Here are three important lessons that many individuals tend to learn through their volunteering experiences:

1. Gaining a broader global perspective and empathy

Volunteering often brings you into contact with people from different backgrounds, experiences, and challenges. This exposure can help you develop a strong sense of empathy and understanding for others. By interacting with individuals who may be facing difficult circumstances, you learn to put yourself in their shoes, appreciate their struggles, and develop a more compassionate outlook on life. This lesson in empathy is essential for building strong interpersonal relationships and becoming a more considerate and caring individual not only throughout school but also long after you have left school and entered the real world.

2. How to effectively work in a team

Volunteering often involves working with diverse groups of people, both fellow volunteers and those you are assisting in your volunteer role. This experience provides a platform to learn about effective teamwork and collaboration. Throughout your time volunteering you’ll come to understand the importance of clear communication, mutual respect, and the ability to leverage each team member's strengths to achieve common goals. These skills are transferable to various areas of your life, such as group projects throughout university (which most students will encounter), work environments, and even social relationships within your friend groups.

3. Time Management Skills

Volunteering requires commitment and dedication. So, does balancing your school responsibilities with your volunteer work. Volunteering throughout your high school years teaches you how to effectively manage your time and fulfill your commitments to the best of your ability. By volunteering you will learn to prioritize tasks, set realistic goals, and allocate your time efficiently to achieve your academic and volunteer goals. This skill is invaluable as you transition into university and even the workforce, where juggling multiple responsibilities becomes even more crucial and can often become overwhelming for those that don’t have good time management skills.

Volunteering during school can often be a juggling act but not only does it benefit you, it also benefits your community. Your volunteering experience throughout school will also give you personal growth opportunities that extend well beyond your years studying textbooks and taking exams in school and throughout university. 

The lessons of global perspective and empathy, effectively working in a team and time management can all help shape your character throughout life and contribute to your success well after you have finished school.

Find a volunteering opportunity through FreddyMatch to suit your school timetable now.