Let's suppose for a moment that you have absolutely no interest in making the world a better place by volunteering your time to work for a worthy organization. Let's assume that the smile on a child's face isn't enough to make you sign up for Big Sisters or to help serve at the Salvation Army's Christmas dinner. Maybe you hope do something like this later, after college, but you see college as the place where you focus on preparing for a career. We want to change your mind.

Many Honors College students take part in our community service program. We don't conduct organized RECHC food drives or one-shot projects. Instead we direct students to an ongoing position within a community organization, trying, wherever possible, to link the position to the student's major. A journalism major might be involved in helping publicize the efforts of Habitat for Humanity or the Red Cross. A health sciences or nursing major might want to volunteer for Planned Parenthood or the Bloodmobile. An English major with an interest in film might help out at the local Jimmy Stewart Museum. An elementary education major might run a reading program for children at the local library. A history major might work for the local Historical Society.

Social service should not be overlooked as a very practical way to gain job experience and important skills that will serve you well. The same organization that wouldn't think of actually hiring you as an employee early in your career may be quite willing to take you on as a volunteer. And when that door opens, students with ability and initiative can prove to an organization that they are ready to take on increasingly difficult tasks and responsibilities.