It’s October; the honeymoon period of those first few weeks has dissolved, and by now you’ve settled into the new school year. You have what feels like a never-ending pile of things to do, and, on top of it all, you’re trying to find a way to balance activities outside of school to build your post-secondary portfolio and fulfill those 30 required work/volunteer hours.
A near-impossible task—or so it seems. I have good news for you: finding time to volunteer during the school year is not as hard as you might think. In this article, I will walk you through how you can fit volunteering into your schedule so that you are able not only to round off your 30-hour requirement, but gain valuable life experience, while enhancing your resume and post-secondary applications.
But first, a case for volunteering: why should you volunteer?
Aside from completing your 30 hours, volunteering as a high school student might be a key to your future success. Universities aren’t just looking for students with good grades, but for students with extensive extracurricular activities and commitments that demonstrate their interests, interpersonal skills, and character.
As well, volunteer experience is a valuable addition to your resume; especially if you volunteer in a role that requires a specific skill set (eg. assisting in a kitchen, or coaching a sports team). Volunteering offers a chance to build skills, gain experience, learn, and meet new people—all things beneficial to you now and throughout your life.
Finding opportunities
Where to get started? Researching opportunities might seem intimidating; here are several resources to help you find a good fit.
West Vancouver Rec Center: In West Vancouver, I recommend looking into the rec center (WVAC)—they are always looking for help with their kids camps, swim lessons, and events. There is a $20 user sign-up fee, but after completing an interview and a 20 minute online orientation, you are free to apply to volunteer anywhere in the district of West Vancouver (which includes the West Vancouver Memorial Library and the Seniors Centre — keep in mind, individual roles will often require separate training). The district uses a website called BetterImpact to manage volunteering digitally. This is where you can sign up for shifts, and your hours will be automatically logged for you.
North Vancouver Rec Center: In North Vancouver, you can volunteer with the North Vancouver Rec Centre in a variety of similar roles. You can volunteer at both centers as a West Van or North Van resident—but consider how you’ll be getting to volunteering when deciding which is most convenient for you.
North Shore Youth Volunteer Directory: Another resource you can use is the North Shore Youth Volunteer Directory, a list of many other opportunities for highschool students on the North Shore.
Choosing a Role
You’ll want to select a volunteer role that genuinely speaks to your interests. This way you will not only enjoy your time more, but also work to curate a university application or resume that tells your personal story. For instance, consider coaching/refereeing for a team of a sport you play, or working with seniors if you’re interested in going into healthcare.
Be sure to also consider your personal schedule when picking a role — some roles will require minimum commitments (for example, 6 months of regular volunteering), so it’s important to only agree to what you can manage. Setting boundaries relative to your time keeps volunteering stress-free and ensures you’re actually able to make your shifts.
Managing Your Time
How do you find the time to volunteer? With schoolwork and extracurriculars, you might feel as though you’ll never have enough time for volunteering on the side.
Here is some advice:
Choose a long-term weekly commitment that you can always make — for instance, a 2-3 hour Saturday morning shift. Volunteering once a week really adds up in the long run. Also, with a single long-term commitment, you don’t have to spend time searching for new one-off volunteer roles.
Set your priorities and communicate openly with coordinators when you cannot make a shift. Volunteering is great, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your wellbeing or academic performance. It’s okay to say no to a shift if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Use a planner or calendar to organize your schedule. This is a great way to keep track of activities in general. Note down all your existing commitments and school deadlines; this way, you can schedule your shifts without having to cancel last minute because you forgot about a test or appointment.
Ultimately, volunteering is a great way to grow skills, gain work experience, and make connections in the community.
Best of luck with your volunteering!
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