Community service provides a variety of unique benefits to the students, the community and to the organizations where students volunteer. It is very common that volunteers get much more out of their service experience than they expect. Also, the community gains resources and services that would otherwise be unavailable. 

One of the mottos the Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning (CESL) uses to promote community service is "Give a little. You'll get back so much more." This is especially true for the personal benefits derived from volunteer service. It has been shown that service activities have a unique way of developing an individual's leadership skills, sense of community, self-esteem, and other personal characteristics. In terms of career growth, many service activities provide students with the opportunity to explore possible careers, experience the "real-world"of their chosen career field, develop professional skills and contacts, build their resume, and put into practice the information they have learned in academic settings. Research has shown that student learning, personal skills and professional development will increase when students invest more of their out-of-class time and energy in educationally purposeful activities such as community service.

Every community service activity or project benefits a specific individual or group. Whether it is building a home for the working poor, serving victims of chronic or terminal illness, tutoring children, or any other service activity, there is a person or group who ultimately benefits from your time! Without volunteers like yourself these services would not be provided and the lives of those people receiving the services would not be enriched. In addition, whenever you reach out and help one person, there is a ripple effect that ultimately results in benefits to the entire community. 

Finally, the organizations where you conduct your service work also benefit enormously. Non-profit agencies and government programs have suffered many budgetary cutbacks, yet client needs have continued to expand. Volunteers can make significant contributions to these agencies in their attempt to deal with the complex and growing needs of society.

As mentioned before, community service is a great opportunity to enhance your educational, personal, and professional development. Like any opportunity you must try to make the most of it. Treat this opportunity like you would an important job. Be committed to your work! Just because it is a volunteer job does not mean you do not have any obligations. Be on time, perform your work to the best of your abilities, dress appropriately, always try to do a little more than is required. The volunteer work you do will be the basis on which you build professional contacts and job skills. If you perform your work poorly and don't take the position seriously, it will negatively reflect on you, the university and the CESL program. On the other hand, if you do well in your volunteer work, it may be a springboard to future opportunities, including part-time work or full-time career opportunities. Also, don't be afraid to discuss your volunteer work assignment with your supervisor. If you wish to be involved in specific activities or projects at your agency, don't be afraid to ask. Many times volunteer supervisors will willingly get volunteers involved in new projects if they know you are interested!

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