16-College Success_ Helping Others to Help Yourself

In some ways, higher education is a self-serving experience.

People often seek a college education because they want to improvetheir lives. Or, they want to increase their chances at gaining well-paying,interesting and meaningful employment.

Even if a person wants to find cures for major diseases or solvehomelessness, they must spend years gaining knowledge and training for themselvesbefore they can help others.

A person's college years are usually very busy. It may not seem likethey have the time or the freedom to serve anyone but themselves.

But Connie Snyder Mick says they actually do.

Mick is the academic director of the Center for Social Concerns atthe University of Notre Dame in the state of Indiana. Centers like hers existat many colleges and universities in the United States. Mick says the centershelp students seeking an experience that may not be directly related to astudent's academic progress, but that is still important: volunteering.

Volunteering is not uncommon in higher education. Many campus groupsorganize volunteer events or fundraising efforts for different causes.Officials in charge of student housing often organize such events to help builda sense of community.

Involvement in these kinds of activities is good for students, Micktold VOA. For example, the busy nature of college life can create a lot ofstress for students. Doing something completely unrelated to a student'sstudies or other work can help calm them by putting their mind on other things.

For a deeper more meaningful addition to their college experience,Mick urges students to visit centers like the one she heads.

She says these centers exist to create volunteer opportunities thatare more complex and meaningful than just a day spent cleaning a local park,for example.

College students often spend little time getting to know the localcommunity just outside of their campus, Mick notes. Higher education is allabout introducing students to new ideas, she says. And these communities may befull of cultures and people that are very different from what the studentsalready know.

Campus volunteering offices often partner with local organizers thatserve the people of the nearby community. These partnerships help make sure thevolunteer efforts are meeting the real needs of that community.

Even for students with little interest in finding a connection withthe local community, there is still value in what volunteer centers have tooffer, Mick says. She notes some opportunities can push students to use whatthey are learning in the classroom out in the real world. And having that kindof experience can make a student appealing to employers in the years to come.

"Imagine teaching computer science at a center for ... peoplewith disabilities," Mick said. "To think about how to apply, moredirectly, what you're studying in the classroom in ways that sort of push youto think about it differently can really be a creative ... space."

Volunteering does not necessarily mean finding extra time in theevenings or weekends, she says. More and more schools are asking professors todesign courses that include volunteer work.

"The research shows that when a student goes and has anexperience, the learning happens in the reflection, and reflection happens incoursework," Mick said. "So ...you're getting that academic credit,but you're also having an ... experience that's thoughtful, that gives youtimes to ... do research and to think deeply about that ... in a way that'sconnected to your academic interests."

Campus volunteer centers can help students identify classes thatoffer these kinds of experiences. The centers also can let students know iftheir school offers any volunteering-based trips during breaks between studyterms. Mick says such trips can be a meaningful way to spend free time andexplore other places.