I started my lifetime commitment to community service while I was in high school. My grandma was always willing to lend a hand to others, and the rest of my family seems to have the same traitβgiving back. She beat into my head the importance of community service, and my first opportunity was with Mexican Fiesta. I must have done a good job, because I have been involved with Fiesta since and advanced to now being responsible for all revenue that comes into the festival.
Volunteering taught me something more than school alone could haveβhow to be a leader. Working as a volunteer was my first big responsibility. People were relying on me. I counted, and recounted the money to make sure everything was always accurate. I started to build my leadership skills as the captain of my high school soccer team.
There I learned how to motivate and lead people. These skills helped me a lot when I started volunteering for Fiesta.
I continued to learn how to work with and manage a team. Volunteering will help you gain experiences and build characteristics for which colleges are looking. With everything else being equal, including GPA, volunteering can tip the scales in your favor among thousands of applicants. One of my most valuable experiences was learning how to work effectively with volunteers and the public. I learned how different people think, react in various situations, and approach problems.
I quickly learned how to negotiate and compromise while creating a volunteer schedule, and to appreciate what each person had to offer. Learning to respond without also being rude is a valuable skill. I learned to think on my feet and come up with solutions, fast. I gathered all the information available and made the best decisions I could.
