{"id":28,"date":"2017-12-08T19:32:47","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T19:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aisd.net\/stem-academy\/students\/student-volunteering\/"},"modified":"2023-11-15T10:34:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T16:34:40","slug":"student-volunteering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.aisd.net\/stem-academy\/students\/student-volunteering\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Volunteering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Volunteering: Helping Others Helps You!<\/h2>\n

Volunteering can help you learn more about yourself and even put you on a path to your future career.<\/p>\n

Take a look at what College Board says about how volunteering<\/a> helps students.<\/p>\n

Learn Ten Reasons Students Should Volunteer<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Build your resume. If you have never had a job, then volunteering is a must. It is the
    \nperfect way to add work-related experience to your resume. Even if you have had multiple
    \njobs, volunteering can benefit you because it shows the employer you are serious about
    \ngetting involved and improving your skills.<\/li>\n
  2. Develop transferable skills. Employers are looking for skills that are easily transferred to\u00a0different areas. Some of these skills are: teamwork, interpersonal communication, public speaking, time management, leadership, organization, analysis, computer\u00a0skills, problem solving and creative thinking. Plus, learning to be dependable and responsible will prepare you to be a good
    \nemployee.<\/li>\n
  3. Explore career opportunities. It’s hard to\u00a0know what you want to do with your life by\u00a0reading a job profile. There are many\u00a0assessments and tools to help in this process\u00a0but volunteering can be just as effective. You will see first-hand what professionals in\u00a0various fields do. This can show you the pros\u00a0and cons of certain jobs. You may have an\u00a0eye-opening experience that gives your life different direction.<\/li>\n
  4. Networking. We have all heard the saying,\u00a0“It’s not what you know but who you know.”\u00a0While this statement isn’t 100 percent\u00a0accurate because what you learn in college is\u00a0valuable, there is some truth to it. Having\u00a0contacts in the business world may lead to\u00a0jobs. Interacting with different people in a volunteer setting could really open doors for\u00a0you as an applicant.<\/li>\n
  5. Learn things you can’t learn in the\u00a0classroom. Be exposed to different parts of\u00a0the community, different cultures, beliefs and\u00a0values. College is a time to figure out who you are and what you want to do the rest of your\u00a0life. Learning about new things can shape that\u00a0path. Plus, you will be able to you are learning in the classroom apply to the\u00a0real world.<\/li>\n
  6. Get a reference. Getting that first job out of\u00a0college can be difficult, especially without\u00a0work experience. Employers always check\u00a0references and while having one or two\u00a0college professors listed will be helpful, having\u00a0someone else who can speak to your work\u00a0ethic and abilities can be priceless. Make sure\u00a0you treat any volunteer opportunity like a job\u00a0by being on time, asking for time off, and\u00a0providing two weeks’ notice when you decide\u00a0to leave.<\/li>\n
  7. Make new friends. Who wouldn’t want\u00a0another opportunity to make more friends?\u00a0You may see the same people every day at\u00a0school, in the residence halls, and in the\u00a0dining halls, but volunteering will expose you\u00a0to a different crowd, most likely with similar\u00a0interests.<\/li>\n
  8. Prepare for graduate school. If you have\u00a0thought about attending graduate school,\u00a0volunteering may be just the thing to set you\u00a0apart. Graduate admissions officers are\u00a0looking for well-rounded students. They want\u00a0to see that you did more in college than live in\u00a0the library. Plus it shows that you care about\u00a0contributing to society and being a\u00a0responsible citizen.<\/li>\n
  9. Do some good. Volunteering will allow you to\u00a0get involved with a worthy cause and\u00a0potentially change lives and make a\u00a0difference. You will learn to have empathy and\u00a0to see the world from a different perspective.<\/li>\n
  10. Volunteering isn’t a full-time commitment. Volunteer hours can be minimal. Three hours\u00a0tutoring children on Saturday mornings or one\u00a0night a week serving at the homeless shelter will still help you accomplish your volunteer\u00a0goals. Most volunteer commitments allow you\u00a0time to still be heavily involved on campus or\u00a0work part-time while maintaining your grades. BONUS<\/strong>: You will enjoy it! It feels good to help\u00a0other people and you know you are making a\u00a0difference. Volunteering can be a fun way to get\u00a0involved in great programs that help your fellow\u00a0community members.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For career development, contact:<\/p>\nSDSU Office of Career Development
    \nCenter for Student Engagement, The Union
    \n605.688.4425
    \n    http:\/\/www.sdstate.edu\/careercenter<\/a>\n

    For part-time and work-study, contact:<\/p>\nSD Department of Labor and Regulation
    \nLarson Commons 103D
    \n605.688.6668
    \n    http:\/\/www.sdjobs.org<\/a>\n

    STEM+ Point Documentation<\/h3>\n

    STEM Academy students are expected to earn STEM+ Points. STEM+ Points are earned by participating in activities above and beyond the classroom time and are designed to extend and enrich your STEM knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n

    STEM+ Points are earned a number of different ways, and different activities are worth a different number of points. A Code Word will be provided for each STEM+ Point opportunity. You will need this code word to log your points.<\/p>\n