Charity begins at home. It's been stressed for thousands of years.
One thing we've all learned over time is that to really help others you have to extend your charity to include all of them. Kindness has many definitions, but in general we mean that it is an act of extending kindness to people or animals in any way possible. Kindness doesn't just mean "be kind." Rather, it is the capacity to extend kindness in all the right situations - including situations where being kind is a choice.
In the United States in particular, many people often feel like they are doing the right thing when they are simply staying home and watching the television. They may even put themselves out of harms way by leaving their doors unlocked or just by being alert and listening when a neighborhood child is being mistreated. The thought process that goes along with this line of thinking is that people should treat each other the way they want to be treated, especially if it means that they aren't receiving government assistance. However, if you extend kindness to those that need it most, while putting yourself in a position to make a profit in the process, what then? Is it still a good idea to help others?
It is my belief that anyone who wants to know the answer to this question, should go out and help others. There are many reasons why being kind is a good idea, but the biggest reason of all is that kindness causes lasting happiness. When you are kindness to those in your life and surrounding you at all times, you become part of that group for a much longer period of time. Therefore, you will have more success in the future by being a part of many different people's lives, and not just your own.
If you take a moment to think about what you feel when you help someone in need, even if you are doing something as simple as mowing the lawn or cleaning the house, what do you feel? Do you feel good, no matter how you are doing it? Or do you feel bad, even if you are just cleaning someone else's house? If you feel good when you are helping others, even if you are helping out with a smile, you will also find yourself becoming kinder towards your self, because you are actually effecting change in yourself, which is very important to succeed in life.
Many college students see volunteering as a good idea, and I can understand where they're coming from. I have seen students who felt bad about themselves because of one small thing, and for them, that was definitely a bad idea. As a student myself, sometimes I would see things that I didn't like about myself. And while it's not always easy to be honest with yourself about these things, you need to try. If you don't want to continue feeling bad about yourself, then perhaps it's a good idea for you to try to make some changes in yourself.
Another great benefit that you will experience by participating in volunteering is the socializing that you will experience. You will meet new friends and many people that you would never have otherwise met, all thanks to a college student volunteering for an organization. While you will find these people to be mostly friendly and happy to be around, they might also try to steer you in the wrong direction or say something that is a little out of place. This is definitely a bonus, because if you were trying to make some social changes along with your volunteering, this could easily backfire on you.
So is it a good idea for you to volunteer work? The answer is most definitely yes, if you are looking to make some social changes along with helping others. The world would be a very different place without people like you spending their free time volunteering to help others. It is a good idea for you to think about it, and if it sounds like something that might work well for you, go ahead and make some time for it. There's no time like the present!
