The rewards of giving back

 STEVEN GROSSO

With so many Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) on campus, there are a ton of opportunities to get involved in what you love. From intramural sports, to singing groups, and any hobby you can think of, there’s an incredible amount of RSOs you can join to have fun in your free time.

But sometimes the most rewarding experience in extracurricular activities is giving back to the community through volunteer work. In my undergraduate career some of my best memories and friendships have come from stepping off campus and venturing into the Champaign-Urbana community to make a difference.

My favorite experience has been with Camp Kesem, where I volunteer through U of I as a camp counselor for children whose parents have or have had cancer. This volunteer experience helps the children manage the difficulty of coping with a parent’s illness, but it also allowed me to learn so much from the kids. I came away from the experience feeling lucky to have worked with them. In addition, I find my work with the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO) to be very rewarding. With such a large network of brothers, APO has helped me make a ton of friends on campus, as well as finding service and leadership opportunities so I can do my part to give back.

While I have enjoyed my personal experiences, there are so many opportunities for you to get involved with volunteering! Every semester there is a Volunteer Fair at the Illini Union where charities and nonprofits are looking for dedicated students to join and help their cause. Whether you’re pre-med or an engineer, these volunteer opportunities are not only great experiences to make new friends and help others, but they’re extremely practical in their value on a resume and future job applications.

It’s always a great idea to start bolstering your experiences, and no matter what occupation you decide to go into, it is always beneficial to show you have given your time to help those who are less fortunate. The University of Illinois campus is amazing, but it can become a bubble while you attend school, so I encourage you to venture out into the community and find volunteer opportunities to create a unique and rewarding college experience!

Blog Source

STEVEN GROSSO

Date