On my first days here in Sofia I was first of all amazed by the quantity of young people from all around Europe coming to work on a Voluntary basis. Before arriving and meeting them all, I have faced this quite sceptical attitude of people from my environment at home country. The attitude of “is this going to be of any benefit for you?” With the departure date approaching I had more and more thoughts and doubts reflecting this attitude of others. However, all of that was dispelled a soon as I saw this incredible variety of young adults ready to devote themselves for voluntary work and at the same time gain this invaluable experience. All types of people - from recent high school graduates to nearly 30-year-olds with several master’s degrees and solid “normal” working experience. Therefore, I feel that it is essential to emphasize, why volunteering is a right choice at any point of one’s life and how it is going to be beneficial for you (a.k.a. shut the scepticism):
1.
If you are a recent high school or
bachelors graduate, it is a perfect way to get a better Idea for your future
career and it helps with a right alternative when choosing your major or a
master’s degree.
It is no
secret that most of youngsters graduate high schools with having no clear
understanding what is law, accounting, public relations, international
management and other things that at this stage of life may indeed sound like
curse words. And even the most exhaustive study program description would not
help to get it right. On the other hand volunteering helps youngster to get
some insights of the field that interest them. Moreover, volunteering
experience may be just what Admission board of the university is looking in
your cover letter.
2. If
you are recent Master’s graduate and want to start your career in a particular
field, you probably have faced this enchanted circle of “We do not hire you due
to lack of experience ↔ I do not have working experience, because no one hires
me”. Thus volunteering can be a perfect
start of your working experience if you get into a project that corresponds
with your education ad degree. Moreover, employers love it when employee has
empirical experience in his/her field, and does not only rely on theory.
3.
If you are someone who is simply not happy
with the way your career and/or life have developed, volunteering is a perfect
opportunity to take a break and re-think your priorities. It is not mere
travelling, where you will only spend money and feel guilty for taking this
break. It is also not wasting your time
on doing nothing and at the end coming to the state of mind of being desperate
when looking for new job and regretting quitting an old one.
4.
Volunteering opens your mind and
helps you to accept and integrate with different people.
5.
Volunteering makes you feel like you
are contributing to the society not only by raising GDP, but also by adding
more value to its moral evolvement which also makes you grow as a personality.
6.
Volunteering improves your social,
relationship skills; it increases self-confidence, not even mentioning that it
may be a start of life-long friendships and relationships.
So catch your opportunity! And the sceptics? Try to make them provide
some logical rebuttals for the above-mentioned.
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