Times are tough in the U.S. what can you do to help? As high school students, time is valuable, and management of that is hard, with homework, sports, and more to deal with. It’s hard to make moments to help others outside of your bubble, and what should motivate you to do it? How do you choose one cause to fight for?
It’s difficult to pick just one or two causes, especially when there are so many problems in the world. It’s hard to even manage your time to fit in volunteering. Sarina Odenthal’s response to being asked if she does any volunteering, “I wish I could, I always wanted to. I just never found the right time.” This is a common problem in high school students wanting to volunteer, so it is a matter of sacrifice, and prioritizing what you find most important. Time management can be hard, especially if multiple opportunities are calling your name. The easiest way to find an organization that is important to you is a step by step process. A little bit of self reflection allows you to think about a matter that affects you, perhaps a family member, or a hobby you enjoy, or something you have had experience with. Then some basic research will guide you right to where you want to go, or, as a hackley student, you could rely on the resources available to you and meet with a teacher, or an advisor to find something important to you.
Consistency is key when it comes to volunteering, however, that doesn’t mean you need to work hours per day to be considered a good person. If your schedule simply doesn’t allow for that, then it doesn’t allow for that. To make a difference can mean that you just volunteer once a month, there isn’t a measure of hours that makes you a ‘good person’. Of course, the more the better, but any helping is good helping.
At Hackley, there are many resources available for students who want to help. Food drives, and teachers, and clubs, and more all there to help you help. If your time can’t squeeze in a little bit of work here or there, food drives and donations are also a great way to make a difference. Often there are drives, for example, in the month of January there is a food drive where you can donate things like vegetable oil, shelf-safe milk, or peanut butter. Buying these items takes a few minutes out of your grocery trip, if you have the resources, why not?
