The Importance of Volunteering
“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”-— Author Unknown
Arguably the most valuable resource to anyone is their time. Whether it be spent on recreation, work, sleeping, or studying, we never seem to have enough of it, and always want more of it. This explains why volunteering can be seen as a great sacrifice a volunteer makes for their community. Volunteering is the bedrock of a functioning society and helps better the community we all live in, especially in a community like Rock Springs where we lack some vital infrastructure for vulnerable groups like the unhoused and those living paycheck to paycheck. In these environments, volunteers can often make or break whether a person gets to eat at night, fostered pets get adopted, material gets recycled, and elections remain free and fair.
Western's 24' Women's Basketball team recently visited TLC Ranch in Cora, Wyoming and volunteered to help out for the day.
We as students, teachers, and citizens can all make a difference, no matter how small the impact may seem. Many students already volunteer their time on campus as peer tutors, student workers, and teacher assistants, each making a significant impact on the lives of everyone they interact with. Off campus the community at large is always in need of willing and conscientious volunteers, some examples include: The Ray Lovato Recycling Center, Red Desert Humane Society, and the Food Bank of Sweetwater County. Volunteering your time on campus in either one or more of these capacities also benefits you as well, providing networking opportunities with employers, social opportunities with peers, and even health benefits! Volunteering helps to reduce stress, increase dopamine levels by giving you a sense of purpose, and teach valuable marketable skills, which may translate into a career!
In the chaos of the semester and the stressful environment that entails, it is understandable for it to be difficult or even impossible to devote time to important causes. Volunteering is something that everyone should keep in mind when the business of the Fall semester winds down. The benefits of volunteering, combined with the importance of giving back to our community, make it a very beneficial use of your time if you are bored, wanting to broaden your relationships, or get valuable work experience.
